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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sneaky
Faith Hill on why Gen Z is the sneaky-saver generation.
—
Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Try rye flour, a sneaky way to add complex flavors, a tender crumb and a little nutrition, especially in sweet baked goods.
—Kara Elder, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The breezy acoustic guitars and sneaky pedal steel almost make her intention to change sounds easy, a rewarding tension underneath such a sunny song.
—Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
And with veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner still on the open market, a value linebacker in Chenal is a sneaky good add.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sneaky
Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Try rye flour, a sneaky way to add complex flavors, a tender crumb and a little nutrition, especially in sweet baked goods.
—Kara Elder, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The breezy acoustic guitars and sneaky pedal steel almost make her intention to change sounds easy, a rewarding tension underneath such a sunny song.
—Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
And with veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner still on the open market, a value linebacker in Chenal is a sneaky good add.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sneaky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaky
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Wagner uses his corrupt politician father’s connections to stage a meeting for him and Morgan with Willa Quinn (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the shady political fixer connected to the disappearance of Morgan’s ex, Roman, 15 years ago.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
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Wagner had only occasional presence and went MIA for awhile, coming across as a shady character and a possible villain who was set up as a potential love interest for Morgan early on.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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The stage seems set for a solemn farewell—the first in a series of sly indirections.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Boston and director Weronika Tofilska (who helmed the premiere episode, among others) draw out the gruesome undertones of familiar nuptial tropes with a sly and twisted sense of humor.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For decades, there’s been a quasi-clandestine accord about expanding oil drilling in the Gulf.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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This clandestine supply chain eventually provided thousands of muskets, field artillery and millions of pounds of gunpowder that made possible the 1777 victory at Saratoga and France’s subsequent formal alliance.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such software flaws can be painstaking for human researchers to find and are coveted by spy agencies and cybercriminals for conducting stealthy hacks.—
Sean Lyngaas,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
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After the Jaden Ivey debacle and a series of drubbings, Michael Reinsdorf finally pulled the trigger yesterday and fired executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and his stealthy sidekick, general manager Marc Eversley.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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The arrest follows an undercover investigation by CNN into online networks of men teaching each other how to drug and rape their partners.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Other such discrimination is more covert.—
Alison Somin,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
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The hypoallergenic, 100-percent cotton fabric provides a breathable option for covert breastfeeding.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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With funding from the Global Environment Facility, or GEF, the Djibouti government spent $150,000 digging a borehole to access underground water and another $100,000 fitting it with a solar pump that would fill a series of large concrete water tanks.—
Julie Bourdin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Pelham Boulevard reconstruction project will replace underground utilities, sidewalks, street surface, curbs, lighting and pedestrian ramps.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sneaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaky. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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