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
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Recent Examples of sneaky
The five-time PGA TOUR winner comes in with sneaky-good form, finishing T14 at the Truist last week and T9 at the Cadillac earlier this month.
—
Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Chapman made his own out on the bases, though it could be chalked up as a sneaky heads-up baserunning move.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
Modern Steel Gray Gray has a sneaky way of turning on you.
—Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Upgrade your living room seating with an upholstered loveseat, a bench that doubles as sneaky storage, and a pull-out sofa bed with a chaise lounge that’s great for movie nights and overnight guests.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sneaky
Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Chapman made his own out on the bases, though it could be chalked up as a sneaky heads-up baserunning move.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
Modern Steel Gray Gray has a sneaky way of turning on you.
—Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Upgrade your living room seating with an upholstered loveseat, a bench that doubles as sneaky storage, and a pull-out sofa bed with a chaise lounge that’s great for movie nights and overnight guests.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sneaky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaky
Adjective
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The company is also developing Blood Aces, which will see Stallone and Yellowstone star Cole Hauser team to produce, with Hauser attached to star as shady casino operator Benny Binion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
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Mahonia is an evergreen shrub with intricate leaf texture that infuses movement into shady spaces.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 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
-
Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Elsewhere, Brad Oscar’s Mayor Menlove — memorably played on the series by Alan Cumming — brings warmth and sly humor to the role, while Ann Harada smoothly reprises her TV performance as Florence Menlove.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But in the current political climate, clandestine behaviors could win out.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
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These relations are not based on secrecy or clandestine arrangements.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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This soot reduction could also make engines stealthier by reducing their infrared signature.—
David Szondy
May 17,
New Atlas,
17 May 2026
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Surviving here demands stealth more so than strength — and harpy eagles are astonishingly stealthy.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Gaff reportedly obliged, providing the undercover detectives with a sample that was subsequently sent through the federal database CODIS, where investigators ultimately linked him to Weaver's murder.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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Essayli on Monday confirmed that Armstrong became known to the DOJ after an undercover video was posted online by James O'Keefe, the founder of conservative nonprofit Project Veritas.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Amarteifio and Edebiri have an understated chemistry that makes the covert passion between these two women believable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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These UUVs are becoming increasingly capable of autonomous operations and performing adaptive search patterns enabling wide area covert operations.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Archaeologists then debated whether the tunnel was some kind of underground agricultural or industrial installation, but its scale and uniqueness in the region ruled out that possibility.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
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Having been filtered through porous underground lava for decades, Silfra boasts exceptionally pure drinking water.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sneaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaky. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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