squirrely

American  

[skwur-uh-lee, skwuhr-, skwir-] / ˈskwɜr ə li, ˈskwʌr-, ˈskwɪr- /

Or squirrelly

adjective

Slang.

1. eccentric; flighty.

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Usage

What does squirrely mean? Squirrely is a slang term meaning eccentric, flighty, or slightly odd, as in There was something squirrely about the way the suspect gave his alibi. Squirrely is used very informally and is often used to describe several different types of behavior. Have you ever seen a squirrel dash back and forth across the road, not actually getting to either side? It might look to you like they can’t decide which side of the road they want to be on. You could describe this behavior as a bit erratic or unpredictable. And when you see a person behave like this, you might call their behavior squirrely. Squirrely can be used to describe actions that are vaguely odd or strange. You might not be able to say precisely what was odd about someone’s behavior, but your instinct tells you that it’s not quite right. It’s a little suspicious. That’s squirrely. Squirrely can also be spelled squirrelly. Example: This squirrely kid kept asking me weird questions and I didn’t know what to do.

Etymology

Origin of squirrely

First recorded in 1930–35; squirrel + -y ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

squirrely

Rather than a slight to Lane, Lithgow’s win is a sign of the dramatic depth that characterized this otherwise squirrely season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Since the boutique owner and uber-wealthy divorcée Stracke joined the show in Season 10, she’s injected “RHOBH” with a dose of squirrely unpredictability.

From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2025

This is where things get squirrely in Lewis’ telling.

From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2023

“He was a squirrely, wrinkly thing,” Richardson says.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 25, 2023

“What about that squirrely new fella?” the fisherman said.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs