shady

[shey-dee]

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

adjective, shad·i·er, shad·i·est.

abounding in shade; shaded: shady paths.
giving shade: a shady tree.
shadowy; indistinct; spectral.

of dubious character; rather disreputable: shady dealings.

Idioms

on the shady side of, Informal. beyond (the specified age); more than: on the shady side of 40.

Origin of shady

First recorded in 1570–80; shade + -y¹

Related formsshad·i·ly, adverbshad·i·ness, nounun·shad·i·ly, adverbun·shad·i·ness, nounun·shad·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for shady

Contemporary Examples

The relationships, and motivations of their chief participants, are as tangled and shady as you expect of the super-rich.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain
Tim Teeman
December 31, 2014
Allison and Cole have lost a child, his family is shady, and his mother domineering.
How Will They End ‘The Affair’? Showtime’s Adultery Drama Defies Predictability
Tim Teeman
December 11, 2014
Dr. Edwards warns that Dawn is not acting out of the kindness of her heart—but then again, Dr. Edwards is shady as hell, too.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason Finale
Melissa Leon
November 24, 2014
The old culture of the Party of Regions—its lack of transparency, the graft and the shady deal making—has returned.
East Ukraine: Back in the USSR
Jamie Dettmer
November 19, 2014
Other shady practices include non-halal meat being marketed as halal.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement
Sharon Adarlo
September 7, 2014

Historical Examples

His whole appearance was suggestive of the shady side of life.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
His carriage was awaiting him in a shady corner of the Binnenhof.
Roden's Corner
Henry Seton Merriman
She looked so cool and restful in her white frock and shady hat.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker
Her own room was on the shady side where pots of mignonette died within a week.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
On several occasions the Coupeaus fancied they saw her in some shady dive.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for shady

shady

adjective shadier or shadiest

full of shade; shaded
affording or casting a shade
dim, quiet, or concealed
informal dubious or questionable as to honesty or legality

Derived Formsshadily, adverbshadiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for shady

adj.

"affording shade," 1570s; "protected by shade," 1590s; from shade (n.) + -y (2). Meaning "disreputable" (1862) probably is from earlier university slang sense of "of questionable merit, unreliable" (1848). Related: Shadily; shadiness. Old English had sceadlic "shady, 'shadely.'"

shady

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}shady

Examples from the Web for shady

Contemporary Examples

The relationships, and motivations of their chief participants, are as tangled and shady as you expect of the super-rich.

Allison and Cole have lost a child, his family is shady, and his mother domineering.

Dr. Edwards warns that Dawn is not acting out of the kindness of her heart—but then again, Dr. Edwards is shady as hell, too.

The old culture of the Party of Regions—its lack of transparency, the graft and the shady deal making—has returned.

Other shady practices include non-halal meat being marketed as halal.

Historical Examples

His whole appearance was suggestive of the shady side of life.

His carriage was awaiting him in a shady corner of the Binnenhof.

She looked so cool and restful in her white frock and shady hat.

Her own room was on the shady side where pots of mignonette died within a week.

On several occasions the Coupeaus fancied they saw her in some shady dive.

shady

Word Origin and History for shady

adj.

Origin of shady