1
as in shaded
protected from the sun's rays
a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
a shady business deal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
cited some shady statistics to back up his argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shifty
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
shady characters hanging out in the park after nightfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in notorious
not respectable
a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Hikers dip into shady trails lined with thick brush, a favorite path being the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which offers a rare peek into the ecosystems—both minuscule and massive—within the swampy marshland.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Cohen claims Unilever has effectively strangled all of the socially conscious efforts on which the brand was built, using shady corporate tactics to dismiss the ice cream company’s oversight board among other issues.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
Matsui campaign strategist Roger Salazar clapped back against the allegations of shady PAC spending Friday, pointing to super PAC spending on Vang’s behalf.
—Mathew Miranda
june 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
This means that even in crowded situations, foliage can capture light, including shady locations where sunlight is at a premium.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shady
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Cohen claims Unilever has effectively strangled all of the socially conscious efforts on which the brand was built, using shady corporate tactics to dismiss the ice cream company’s oversight board among other issues.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
Matsui campaign strategist Roger Salazar clapped back against the allegations of shady PAC spending Friday, pointing to super PAC spending on Vang’s behalf.
—Mathew Miranda
june 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
This means that even in crowded situations, foliage can capture light, including shady locations where sunlight is at a premium.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shady
Adjective
-
One of the island’s most recognizable landmarks for GOT fans is the Benedictine Monastery, a centuries-old complex surrounded by gardens and shaded courtyards.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Levee Porch will offer a shaded porch and walk-up bar with steps leading down to a beer garden beneath live oak trees near the river.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The deceptive piece is the marketing.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
-
Manaea’s delivery is deceptive because there is crossfire action from a low slot.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
The 27-year-old is known for his steadying presence and reliable defense in the midfield, and with questionable depth behind him, losing Adams to an injury or yellow card suspension could prove disastrous.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
Using a specific set of situational conditions under which the detection system is effective is questionable, Chris Smith, one of the plaintiff’s attorneys, told Ars.—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Preston is a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver, going east-west more on his forehand.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Catalina suffers from an unspecified mental disability, which Saavedra, who is not handicapped, performs in an arguably inappropriate register of fidgety hands and shifty-eyed glances.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the clip above, Pacino’s character is in conversation with notorious mobsters Sam Giancana (played by Paul Ben-Victor) and Johnny Roselli (played by Logan Marshall-Green).—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
-
Yet one of the most notorious examples of his ability to wield the n-word as a comic weapon took offstage.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Like a vampire who can't see his own shadowy side, Peter promises them youthful immortality but ultimately ends up isolated and alone.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
The team managed to gain access to festival in the desert’s shadowy leadership and key players, so expect some startling revelations.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Holmes fashioned herself as the next Steve Jobs, until a reporter at the Wall Street Journal blew the lid off Theranos' fraudulent claims of developing a state-of-the-art medical test that required only a single drop of blood to accurately detect results like glucose levels and cancer.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
The Justice Department alleges the two businesses submitted fraudulent claims for services that were never rendered.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The stories behind each batch of Booker’s range from nebulous to dubious to some semblance of credibility.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
9 June 2026
-
And while that big, round number is dubious, the essence isn’t.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shady. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
