shady

adjective

ˈshā-dē How to pronounce shady (audio)
Definition of shadynext
1
as in shaded
protected from the sun's rays a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception a shady business deal

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3
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged cited some shady statistics to back up his argument

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4
as in shifty
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions shady characters hanging out in the park after nightfall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in notorious
not respectable a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shady Find a park bench or shady tree and enjoy a meal outdoors for a mental reset. — Todd Lookingbill, The Conversation, 31 July 2026 The latter attraction is the ultimate retreat for kids and parents alike, offering geysers, slides, a waterfall, and plenty of shady seating. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026 The cottonwoods have provided people a shady gathering place for generations, conservationists say. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Coleus and hydrangea also have similar care needs, thriving in shady spots and consistently moist soil. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shady
  1. shaded
  2. deceptive
  3. questionable
  4. shifty
  5. notorious
  6. shadowy
  7. fraudulent
  8. dubious
Adjective
  • Place in a Warm Spot Place your pot in a warm, shaded spot and keep it damp until the green shoots emerge in one to three weeks.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The covered porch created a comfortable, shaded space where the homeowners can watch their kids play, interact with neighbors walking by, and host seasonal gatherings like trick-or-treating on Halloween.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • The county attorney presented a plan to sue several big pharma companies for the deceptive marketing practices that triggered the opioid epidemic, following the pattern established by lawsuits filed against tobacco companies starting in the 1990s.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Outside companies can test systems for cybersecurity risks, deceptive behavior, privacy failures, bias and dangerous capabilities.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • And the sheer scale and complexity of the Medicaid system – joint federal-state funding, varying eligibility requirements, millions of enrollees and thousands of providers – created opportunities for questionable billing practices among providers.
    — Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Williams’ return After missing Golden State’s first game after the break, Williams was a game-time decision and played 19 minutes in the Valks’ win after being listed as questionable before tipoff.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of questionable
Adjective
  • Instead, the Hall of Fame running back who inspired a generation of running backs with his sensational, elusive, shifty style was walking up and down the sideline handing out refreshments to his teammates.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • My own traumatic experiences taught me how shifty memory can be—how incomplete and vulnerable to self-doubt.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shifty
Adjective
  • Teens are notorious for experimenting with everything from hairstyles to clothing in the name of self-expression.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This high-security prison is a sprawling complex that houses thousands of detainees, including notorious gangsters, terrorists and prominent white-collar offenders.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of notorious
Adjective
  • When the Eras Tour started, in 2023, Swift had been at war with the shadowy entities that owned her recordings—first, the bosses of her former label Big Machine Records, then the mogul Scooter Braun, who bought Big Machine, in 2019.
    — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Sink debuts as Jean Grey, a shadowy antagonist for Tom Holland's Spider-Man in director Destin Daniel Cretton's new big-screen adventure.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadowy
Adjective
  • Section 548 in general states the bankruptcy law on fraudulent transfers.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Hatagan’s testimony at his sentencing undid the fraudulent invoices claim presented by prosecutors and that statute of limitations began when the alleged crime occurred, the motion stated.
    — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • This time, that main doubter is Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds), the Lady Greyhounds’ first assistant coach, who begins the season dubious of everything going on around her before predictably being won over by Ted.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket have long garnered a reputation for allowing users to make all kinds of ethically dubious bets, from the outcomes of deadly conflicts to raging wildfires.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of dubious

Browse Nearby Words

shadowy
shady
shaft
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Cite this Entry

“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shady. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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