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
The backcourt duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the StudBudz, are shifty, tough shot-making guards who can get hot in a hurry.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
By halftime, the shifty Jordan – the Trojans’ starter – had carried it five times for 42 yards and a score.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
The running backs should again be fast and shifty, led by juniors Kameron Lee, Elijah McCluster, a transfer from East River, sophomore Bennie Johnson and senior Duante Wallace.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025
Ross is nimble enough to outrun those comparisons, shifty enough to outrun those expectations, and fast enough to outrun Horton’s shadow.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
By halftime, the shifty Jordan – the Trojans’ starter – had carried it five times for 42 yards and a score.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
The running backs should again be fast and shifty, led by juniors Kameron Lee, Elijah McCluster, a transfer from East River, sophomore Bennie Johnson and senior Duante Wallace.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025
Ross is nimble enough to outrun those comparisons, shifty enough to outrun those expectations, and fast enough to outrun Horton’s shadow.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shifty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifty
Adjective
-
An ambitious provocation, the book calls for a single-party system of government that ostensibly gives power back to the people (even if it’s been published by a shady corporation with its own interests in mind).—
Manuel Betancourt,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Kue Lawrence delivers a chilling performance for the ages as Samuel Miller, a seventh-grade student recruited by a shady mentor (Michael Sean Tighe) to compete in the bloody contests.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In New Jersey, creating or sharing deceptive AI media can lead to prison time and fines.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But the first time around, producers relied on deceptive camera angles and some CGI to edit out her pregnancy belly.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So sneaky that some play a deadly game of hide and seek.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The Irish have been sneaky good after halftime all season, even during those losses to Miami and Texas A&M.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Andrew Wheatley, minister without portfolio in the prime minister’s office, said the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team has identified more than two dozen fraudulent hurricane relief websites attempting to divert contributions and donations from legitimate sources.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Following a 2023 trial, a Florida jury found the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital liable for false imprisonment, battery, fraudulent billing, wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress — allegations by Kowalski's family that were documented in the Netflix documentary.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
After a disastrous attempt at bedding Minde’s ex-girlfriend Edita (Vaidilė Juozaitytė), our flat-top sporting hero with a crooked smile meets Monika (Digna Kulionytė), an ambitious, studious beauty from the middle-class area of town.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Another crooked number against the Dodgers’ bullpen in the seventh inning cemented a 6-2 Game 4 victory that evened the World Series at two games apiece.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Matthiessen, not without reason, portrays the Bureau as paranoid, dishonest, and in league with corporate interests.—
Maggie Doherty,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For that incredibly dishonest assessment that actually did a disservice to the country, Obama is held up to widespread praise by Democrats and others, even winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifty. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share