sneaking 1 of 2

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sneaking

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verb

present participle of sneak
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

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 sneaking
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaking
Adjective
  • On bright sunny days in summer, look for a shady place where light intensity is reduced.
    Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Once they’ve been admitted, users have access to profiles of men annotated with information such as background checks and dating reviews; men with shady dating histories are rated with red flags.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Verb
  • More than a few crumbs could be lurking in the darkest, deepest recesses of your pantry.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2025
  • This isn't enough to completely rule out the possibility of any more small planets that might be lurking in the habitable zone.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • And law enforcement agencies started surveilling and infiltrating Muslim communities across the United States.
    Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 27 Mar. 2025
  • An Army veteran police officer was killed in a shootout during an operational crackdown on transnational drug trafficking organizations infiltrating illicit drugs into the United States, California officials said Wednesday.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Micky van de Ven’s goal, the opener on 39 minutes, came from a sneaky tactic which saw his new captain, and fellow centre-back, Cristian Romero peel towards the edge of the box and head the ball back into a dangerous area from Vicario’s free kick.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • As his August 10 home run illustrated, Collins has some sneaky pop in his bat.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Party leaders could reveal what their rivals were cooking up and reporters could penetrate clandestine deal-making through sources.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Nic Carter, a crypto venture capitalist, then coined the term Operation Choke Point 2.0, referring to an Obama administration clandestine operation to debank undesirable industries including firearms dealers and payday lenders in the early 2010s.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond discomfort and potential allergic reactions, a dirty mattress can also affect the quality of your sleep itself.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Inspection reports revealed problems with mold, water leaks, dirty equipment and rooms, meat debris stuck on walls and equipment, various bugs, and, at one point, puddles of blood on the floor.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Harrison took Georgia’s second-half kickoff all the way to the end zone, slipping a tackle near the middle of the field, cutting toward the right sideline and outrunning everyone.
    Brett Martel, The Denver Post, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Richardson failed at the first one; nailed the second, and was slipping on #3.
    Scott Powers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Sneaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaking. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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