sneaky

adjective

ˈsnē-kē How to pronounce sneaky (audio)
Definition of sneakynext
1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions his opponent's sneaky campaign manager was clearly up to something

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sneak
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a sneaky plan to replace the priceless painting with a copy

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 sneaky Use them on your luggage, backpack, purse, or fanny pack to prevent sneaky pickpockets from slipping their fingers inside. — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026 Fall is finally here — and the must-have shoe brand for cold weather is celebrating with a sneaky sale. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 Morris contributed a logical note to sneaky goings-on, and Lupus made his silent bit seem credible. — Ed Olmstead, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Makes this division rivalry — one of only three 1-0 matchups in Week 2 -- a sneaky Game of Week candidate. — Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sneaky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaky
  1. shady
  2. clandestine
  3. sly
  4. undercover
  5. stealthy
  6. covert
  7. underground
  8. sneaking
Adjective
  • There was money, manipulation, secret meetings with shady characters in China, fake identities, lies, trickery, and deceit.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Our favorite spots to lounge were the roof deck loungers and the padded bench seating beneath shady palm fronds in the atrium courtyard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • As Béatrice’s amateur detective work pulls her in deeper, the strands begin to suggest a conspiracy, one marked by mysterious disappearances and the clandestine sway of the Vatican.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other entries referenced covert access, clandestine technical operations and telecommunications interception.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • Whether these stories are fictional or heightened for comic effect is irrelevant; Simmons-Patterson’s conversational delivery and sly smile are so magnetic that audiences want to spend time in his universe either way.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Asked if Cole would be guaranteed a start in the Wild Card round, the likeliest scenario for the Yankees, the manager replied with a sly smile on Friday.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of sly
Adjective
  • The second half throws us into the other timeline, where Ari’s doppelgänger, known as Ibari, is a high-ranking undercover operative willing to disappear fellow citizens that pose challenges to the authoritarian government.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The news program worked with internet watchdog group Perverted Justice to record undercover sting operations against alleged pedophiles.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • To build a stealthy ocean-monitoring platform for the Office of Naval Research, Professor Shepherd needed a propulsion system that would not startle marine life.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Akhtar the author, though, is conducting a stealthy psyop aimed at detonating the certainties of combatants on both sides.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stealthy
Adjective
  • In the air, stealth aircraft require covert, point-to-point laser links to exchange target data without revealing their position to adversary direction-finding systems.
    — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In early January, the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a covert military operation.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Poland also has over 86,000 places of refuge offering a lower level of protection such as basements, underground garages or subway stations, and catering for around 23 million people.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In 2011, Joe Kay debuted Soulection as a college radio show at Cal State Long Beach, spinning rare B-sides, progressive beats, inventive flips of classic records and soulful underground tracks.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of underground
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
Definition of sneaking

Browse Nearby Words

sneak up
sneaky
sneer
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Cite this Entry

“Sneaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaky. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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