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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
On more than one occasion during team period and in seven-on-seven, Shaw deftly mirrored the shifty Craver.
—
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
As a player who thrives on his shifty change of pace, Doncic’s quick start and stop motions put extra load on his hamstrings and put him at risk of reinjury.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Zack James’ shifty drumming hammers out a drum ’n’ bass redux like a panicked heartbeat while Carney Hemler’s bass lurches in slow motion, replicating the gut drop of a horrible realization.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Leite’s most notable game came in the Valkyries’ playoff-clinching win over the Dallas Wings, where the shifty point guard came off the bench and scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting while dishing out five assists.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
As a player who thrives on his shifty change of pace, Doncic’s quick start and stop motions put extra load on his hamstrings and put him at risk of reinjury.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Zack James’ shifty drumming hammers out a drum ’n’ bass redux like a panicked heartbeat while Carney Hemler’s bass lurches in slow motion, replicating the gut drop of a horrible realization.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Leite’s most notable game came in the Valkyries’ playoff-clinching win over the Dallas Wings, where the shifty point guard came off the bench and scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting while dishing out five assists.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifty
Adjective
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As your seedlings start to grow, trim each pot down to one seedling before exposing them to the outdoor environment in a shady spot for a few hours everyday for at least a week.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
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Matsui campaign strategist Roger Salazar clapped back against the allegations of shady PAC spending Friday, pointing to super PAC spending on Vang’s behalf.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
This isn’t an easy history to tell since obfuscation, confusion, and deceptive hype are its central themes.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Owens also challenged the ballot title and summary as deceptive.—
Jack Harvel
June 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Houston The Cougars retained their two best players (quarterback Conner Weigman, wide receiver Amare Thomas) and did a sneaky good job of finding fits in the portal to add to a team that went 10-3 last year.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Oven Mitts Like reusable grocery bags, oven mitts, and pot holders are a sneaky source of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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The Justice Department alleges the two businesses submitted fraudulent claims for services that were never rendered.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The set design is intricate and distorted—visible paintbrush strokes, acute angles, crooked lines—lending the film a surreal quality and supporting its cast of expressive actors, exaggerated costuming, and eerie makeup.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
30 May 2026
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Falter struggled, but he also wasn’t helped by a replay review that helped the Yankees put up a crooked number in the first inning.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Fragmented oversight creates opportunities for dishonest actors to exploit the gaps.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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The election took place amid a surge in violent crime and corruption that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifty. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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