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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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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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 Santa Margarita River Trail Looking for a shady spring or summertime hike? — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Earle ended up leaving the network and posting some shady comments on TikTok, leading Cooper to respond with a direct shot. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 Gonzalez has now revamped the lobby, created a private bar, lined the pool with blue-and-white tiles, and added a shady pergola on the terrace. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026 Seek out a shady table, whether by the sea, beneath pine and tamarisk trees, or on a village terrace. — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 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
  • Lichens are normally found on older shaded leaves that drop from the trees during spring.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Mowing with the mower at its highest setting keeps the turf canopy full and shaded.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • Meta will be subject to an injunction prohibiting it from making further false, misleading, or deceptive statements around its safety features.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The agency has said deceptive or unfair data practices can violate existing consumer protection laws.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Currently at issue are three forms of gambling — two legal, one questionable.
    — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Johnny Marr has another message for those with questionable perspectives.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of questionable
Adjective
  • The singer kept her cool through technical difficulties and captivated a drenched, shifty crowd, drawing them in with a warm smile and a euphonious delivery.
    — DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • No actress this century has been able to match Hathaway's slinky, shifty take on small-time thief Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of shifty
Adjective
  • Local media reported that the executions took place in the notorious Qarnada military prison in the northeastern town of Shahat, and that their families were notified to receive their bodies from a hospital in the city of Benghazi.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In a country where men dominate positions of power in business and government, boozy business dinners are notorious for putting female employees in risky positions.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of notorious
Adjective
  • Luke Halls’ video and projections add another layer of visual unease, allowing screens and technology inside the home to become as suspicious as its shadowy corners.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • What Washington could do China imports Iranian oil using a shadowy system that’s by design insulated from the US dollar system – and sanctions.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadowy
Adjective
  • Tashia McKenzie, 36, faces one count each of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits and second-degree larceny, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a news release Tuesday.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Verification can be particularly important because fraudulent job listings have become a concern for applicants and job platforms alike.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Overt leaflet and loudspeaker campaigns, which the US military also used during the Gulf War and in Iraq and Afghanistan, were meant to weaken morale and instill fear (to dubious success).
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Though the current protests were sparked by the Kushner’s access to advantages from the Albanian government, the Sazan Island incident was a greater representation of Rama’s many dubious dealings.
    — Naomi Tomky, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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