1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
shifty practices such as turning back the odometers on used cars
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifty
That blandness has gone hand in hand with a shifty political opportunism, marked by half-hearted representational milestones—Ariel is Black!
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
The shifty guard snaked his way into the lane and knocked down a floater over the outstretched arms of Florida’s 6-9 forward Thomas Haugh a few minutes later.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025
Houston was simply without an answer for the electric, shifty guard who punished each and every defender that was put in his crosshairs.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Rocking a New Jersey accent as Joyce’s friend Cynthia, Moore gives a shifty performance that’s key to the success of this twisty non-linear mystery.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
The shifty guard snaked his way into the lane and knocked down a floater over the outstretched arms of Florida’s 6-9 forward Thomas Haugh a few minutes later.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025
Houston was simply without an answer for the electric, shifty guard who punished each and every defender that was put in his crosshairs.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Rocking a New Jersey accent as Joyce’s friend Cynthia, Moore gives a shifty performance that’s key to the success of this twisty non-linear mystery.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifty
Adjective
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To preserve your tools, clean them off then tuck them away somewhere cooler, dryer, and shadier like a garden shed or garage.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
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In his search for justice on the frontier, however, Rabbi Mo unknowingly wades into the center of a lethal conspiracy tied to a shady land deal.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Amazon has prevailed in a class-action lawsuit that accused it of engaging in deceptive trade practices.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
19 July 2025
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Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office sent CBZ and its constituent companies several subpoenas in September as investigators probed the chronically unsafe conditions of the companies’ properties, as well as allegations from tenants that CBZ had engaged in insurance fraud and deceptive practices.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Walmart’s got some sneaky good deals right now, and this one definitely caught our eye.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 July 2025
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Keep an eye out for sneaky eaters tempted to pick off the topping to eat like candy. Directions Prepare the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Most courts will ignore asset protection moves taken after that point, labeling them as fraudulent conveyances.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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In total, the group was accused of wasting 1,937 COVID-19 vaccine doses between October 2021 and September 2022, including 391 pediatric doses, and creating fraudulent immunization records for them.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Republicans are right to be terrified with their prospects in November 2025 and 2026; there is going to be a major reckoning for their chaotic, crooked, and extreme governance.—
James Skoufis,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
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National reporters and true crime junkies dug in, while local officials — already lacquered in scandal — looked so crooked a frame job seemed not just possible but probable.—
Tom Blakely,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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McClure is also accused of attempting to change his patient care reports in order to cover up his actions and being dishonest during interviews with his supervisors about the incident.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
11 July 2025
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Raynor was accused of having been dishonest about facts, including the way the author and her husband, Moth Winn — whose real names are allegedly Sally and Tim Walker — found themselves without a home.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifty. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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