1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
never let one of those sneaking salespeople into your house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sneak
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
harbored a sneaking admiration for his chief business rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a sneaking two-timer who has completely lost his wife's trust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lurking
to move about in a sly or secret manner
the little kids sneak around upstairs when they're supposed to be in bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way
sneak the topic into the conversation any way you can
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sneaking
Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2026
Those against it will argue to do so rewards the criminal act of sneaking over the border.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
Not only does the crew-length keep trail debris (like dirt and pebbles) from sneaking inside the socks, but the wool fibers and just-right thickness have kept me blister-free and perfectly temperature-regulated in a wide range of conditions and seasons for years.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 12 Jan. 2026
Gaps in windows and doors, cracks within the walls, and any other places where cold air is sneaking in should be sealed off and the temperature within the home should remain consistent—particularly during very cold nights.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Cold weather is resilient, sneaking through hidden cracks in your windows during winter and reducing the efficiency of your HVAC system.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
School administrators alert Irene that he’s been sneaking into the school building after hours.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Some of my earliest memories are sneaking out of bed to sit at the top of the stairs, desperate to catch a glimpse of the gold and the glamour.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
That's fine by Rodgers, who knows a thing or two about sneaking in the playoffs and going on a run.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The package includes free breakfast for your plus-one (no more sneaking snacks away from the conference), a signature drink each night (perfect for unwinding after your workday ends), and 1,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
They’re built with a cozy fleece lining that’ll keep your hands cozy and warm, and a wind-proof cuff that’ll keep any drafts from sneaking into them.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2026
Those against it will argue to do so rewards the criminal act of sneaking over the border.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
Not only does the crew-length keep trail debris (like dirt and pebbles) from sneaking inside the socks, but the wool fibers and just-right thickness have kept me blister-free and perfectly temperature-regulated in a wide range of conditions and seasons for years.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 12 Jan. 2026
Gaps in windows and doors, cracks within the walls, and any other places where cold air is sneaking in should be sealed off and the temperature within the home should remain consistent—particularly during very cold nights.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Cold weather is resilient, sneaking through hidden cracks in your windows during winter and reducing the efficiency of your HVAC system.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
School administrators alert Irene that he’s been sneaking into the school building after hours.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Some of my earliest memories are sneaking out of bed to sit at the top of the stairs, desperate to catch a glimpse of the gold and the glamour.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
That's fine by Rodgers, who knows a thing or two about sneaking in the playoffs and going on a run.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaking
Adjective
-
Mary sends me shady TikToks about the other girls sometimes.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Full sun today, combined with winds, should help with melting of ice, with the exception shady spots in the Hill Country and into northwest Travis and Williamson counties.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.—
Mehera Bonner,
Marie Claire,
15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
-
Gavin Newsom is officially a lame-duck governor, and his final year in office seems increasingly focused on an almost certain campaign for the White House.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Gavin Newsom is officially a lame-duck governor, and his final year in office seems increasingly focused on an almost certain campaign for the White House.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Something always seems to be lurking in the periphery, glinting off the edges of mirrors, flickering across those black wings offstage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Supply chain vulnerability Nowadays, there is a vulnerability lurking within the supply chain of the controllers themselves.—
Saman Zonouz,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Airborne tear gas can drift, infiltrating residents’ apartments through vents, air conditioning units and windowsills.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The second greatest threat for the year, according to Experian, are deepfake candidates infiltrating remote workforces.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cereal The cereal aisle can be sneaky.—
Sarah Anzlovar,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Except, when the rehearsals start in earnest and boys enter the duo’s orbit in after-school adventures, their already off-balance dual existence and sneaky one-upmanship worsens.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Manned semisubmersibles built in clandestine jungle shipyards have been used for decades to ferry cocaine north from Colombia, the world's biggest cocaine producer, to Central America or Mexico.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Written and directed by Jafar Panahi (known for his clandestine 2011 documentary This Is Not a Film), the story follows released political prisoners seeking revenge after a chance roadside meeting.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The women have frequently shared their custom dirty soda orders and helped catapult the once-niche drink, often guzzled from 44-ounce mega cups, into the spotlight.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
If extremely dirty, they can be very briefly dunked into cold water and wiped dry.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sneaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaking. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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