Synonyms of sneaking

sneaking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsnē-kiŋ 

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

• shady
• sneaky
• cheating
• furtive
• stealthy
• sly
• shifty
• dark
• clandestine
• slippery
• close
• crooked
• cunning
• lying
• slick
• deceptive
• treacherous
• covert
• secretive
• crafty
• wily
• dishonest
• devious
• artful
• deceiving
• foxy
• tricky
• underhanded
• reticent
• duplicitous
• deceitful
• underhand
• insidious
• guileful
• perfidious
• closemouthed
• untrustworthy
• defrauding
• trickish
• serpentine
• dissembling
• mendacious
• untruthful
• knavish
• double-dealing
• two-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• direct
• forthright
• straightforward
• plain
• frank
• candid
• aboveboard
• honest
• plainspoken
• truthful
• trustworthy
• foursquare

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

• sneak
• clandestine
• undercover
• covert
• underground
• private
• stealth
• surreptitious
• sneaky
• secret
• furtive
• stealthy
• underhanded
• behind-the-scenes
• underhand
• privy
• backstairs
• undisclosed
• hole-and-corner
• hidden
• hush-hush
• hugger-mugger
• confidential
• secreted
• restricted
• closed-door
• off-the-books
• classified
• off-the-record
• concealed
• top secret
• back-channel
• subterranean
• unexposed
• unadvertised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• overt
• open
• public
• avowed
• acknowledged
• straightforward
• evident
• obvious
• unrestricted
• undisguised
• clear
• unconcealed
• unclassified
• plain
• manifest
• aboveboard
• patent

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

• lame
• dirty
• cheap
• pitiful
• nasty
• mean
• wretched
• disgusting
• hateful
• sorry
• grubby
• vile
• scurvy
• deplorable
• scabby
• lousy
• paltry
• despicable
• ratty
• contemptible
• scummy
• cruddy
• pitiable
• revolting
• shameful
• detestable
• odious
• loathsome
• base
• abominable
• repugnant
• abhorrent
• repulsive
• disgraceful
• disreputable
• reptilian
• sordid
• dishonorable
• shabby
• ignominious
• dastardly
• craven
• ignoble
• unscrupulous
• squalid
• discreditable
• low
• execrable
• cowardly
• condemnable
• unethical
• reprehensible
• unprincipled
• revulsive
• censurable
• reproachable
• blamable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creditable
• commendable
• laudable
• admirable
• praiseworthy
• scrupulous
• honest
• meritorious
• noble
• right
• upright
• good
• honorable
• principled
• reputable
• redoubtable
• moral
• ethical
• virtuous
• righteous
• high-minded
• right-minded

sneaking

2 of 2

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

• lurking
• slipping
• stealing
• sliding
• slinking
• skulking
• crawling
• creeping
• snaking
• tiptoeing
• shirking
• mooching
• mousing
• inching
• pussyfooting
• edging
• worming
• padding
• ghosting

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

• infiltrating
• inserting
• slipping
• winding
• introducing
• worming
• working in
• insinuating
• wriggling
• creeping
• wiggling
• edging
• interpolating
• interposing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sneaking

Adjective

Contributor Yelena Alpert has a sneaking suspicion that these Frette slippers will last a lifetime, attributing her hypothesis to the shoe’s superior quality. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026

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

Just a few weeks into the war, one of the Persian Gulf’s top oil producers quietly began sneaking its crude out of the Strait of Hormuz. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026

But neither those measures nor Friday’s sizzling temperatures stopped fans from gathering in hopes of sneaking a peak at their longtime idol and sending Swift their well wishes. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

The guys are up to their usual tricks — like sneaking out of a casket — but the real headliner is the appearance of Alyssa Milano. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

Parents have long used this beloved casserole as a vehicle for sneaking some veggies into picky kids' diets. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 July 2026

Trevino put Cincinnati back ahead 6-4 by sneaking a two-run single through the right side in the sixth. — CBS News, 27 June 2026

His one rule for guests is to chase whatever task is nagging at them, but to resist sneaking in actual work. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026

As for oats, consider sneaking in some extra protein to round out their nutritional profile. — Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 24 June 2026

Argentina won the last World Cup after losing its opener to lowly Saudi Arabia, Portugal won Euro 2016 after sneaking into the knockouts following three draws in the group stage and Spain won the 2010 World Cup after losing its opening match to Switzerland. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026