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
Relevance
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
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
Occult pyrotechnics and bloody business of all kinds are not allowed to obscure the interior shifts of the shifty Macbeths.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Pritchard is shifty and swaggering, with a quick release and a smooth pump fake.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
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
Occult pyrotechnics and bloody business of all kinds are not allowed to obscure the interior shifts of the shifty Macbeths.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Pritchard is shifty and swaggering, with a quick release and a smooth pump fake.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifty
Adjective
-
Gates has three ecosystems on her quarter-acre: a sunny front yard, a shady back plot and a small wetland garden on one side.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
-
With its rolling hills, shady live oaks, and thriving equestrian scene, Ocala already has bucolic appeal.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed a suit against ExxonMobil last year that, in part, accuses the oil giant of deceptive claims regarding chemical recycling, which the company disputes.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
-
During the defense’s cross-examination of Kid Cudi, lawyers representing Combs portrayed Ventura as deceptive of both men.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Upgrade to some new bags that hold a sneaky amount of stuff and look great doing it.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
19 May 2025
-
From sneaky ways to get her grandkids outside to turning tiny household tasks into exciting activities, here are the nostalgic summer things your Southern grandma would use to entertain and delight on a trip to her house.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
In 2024, Nicolás Maduro won his reelection in a race contested as fraudulent by the opposition.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
19 May 2025
-
Real examples: Six people were charged with attempting to steal $80 million through fraudulent checks tied to COVID-19 relief funds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Among them is Tonic, which stars Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) as Sebastian Poe, a struggling jazz pianist who is given 24 hours to kill a dangerous drug dealer (Westwick) by a crooked cop (Jaso Coviello), and spirals into a moral and emotional tailspin.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
Cigarette smoke, dames to kill for, crooked cops — latex super suit?—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
There's also research showing that AI agents can easily be subversive, self-serving and dishonest in their actions.—
Lisa Loud,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
That’s a fact, so saying otherwise is dishonest and can lead to confusion.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifty. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share