shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē How to pronounce shifty (audio)
Definition of shiftynext
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

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 shifty It’s been a big offseason for the dynamic receiver, a shifty route runner who’s not the biggest guy, at 6-foot and165 pounds, but his ball skills are elite. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 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 Wiggins wears a shifty bowler hat and takes notes on Jol and Louisa, then reports back to Frances. — Alice Burton, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 Here, his work leans into the shifty uncanniness of Altman’s two (or more)-facedness. — Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shifty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifty
  1. shady
  2. deceptive
  3. sneaky
  4. fraudulent
  5. crooked
  6. dishonest
Adjective
  • Keep the cuttings in a shady site and mist several times a day to have plants ready for containers or other flower beds in about a month.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
  • These shady sites are great nap spots for rattlesnakes, which are common to the area.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Distinguished by unique morphological features like a longer tail and specific tooth structure, alongside genetic evidence, the stingray's identification underscores the complexity of taxonomy where appearances can be deceptive.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • This spacious bench doubles as a sneaky deck box, keeping your space guest-ready and clutter-free.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026
  • Don’t miss out on Coach’s sneaky summer sale and shop more finds below.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of sneaky
Adjective
  • Under federal law, persons who 'knowingly and willfully … make any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation' to Congress may be subject to penalties.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Resurrection Dex’s Resurrection is an uncomfortably honest and self-critical mixtape about the British rapper attempting to reform his crooked ways.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • Whitehead, meanwhile, crystalizes his sense of what makes the city run, where Carney fits in, and how the straight and crooked worlds are entwined in one strange ecosystem with laws that only the lawless can enforce.
    — David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • But 52% of employees in that same study believe their company's efforts to be empathetic are dishonest.
    — Dennis Kozak, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The state agency said clinic staffers had clients sign a personal injury waiver, which the commission said was unenforceable, against public policy and deceptive and dishonest.
    — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026
Definition of dishonest

Browse Nearby Words

shifts
shifty
shigellosis
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Cite this Entry

“Shifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifty. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shifty for Spanish Speakers

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