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Synonyms

shady

American  
[shey-dee] / ˈʃeɪ di /

adjective

shadier, shadiest

  1. abounding in shade; shaded: shade.

    shady paths.

  2. giving shade.

    a shady tree.

  3. shadowy; indistinct; spectral.

  4. of dubious character; rather disreputable.

    shady dealings.

idioms

  1. on the shady side of, beyond (the specified age); more than.

    on the shady side of 40.
shady British  
/ ˈʃeɪdɪ /

adjective

  1. full of shade; shaded

  2. affording or casting a shade

  3. dim, quiet, or concealed

  4. informal dubious or questionable as to honesty or legality

"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

Other Word Forms

  • shadily adverb
  • shadiness noun
  • unshadily adverb
  • unshadiness noun
  • unshady adjective

Etymology

Origin of shady

First recorded in 1570–80; shade + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There’s malware lurking in shady smartphone apps and cheap off-brand household electronics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

But here’s the catch: plenty of shady providers will log your data, inject malware or straight-up compromise your privacy.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

Low-value cars like mine often end up in "chop shops", shady workshops where they're broken up for second-hand components that sell for a fraction of the hefty prices charged for manufacturers' originals.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Yet a new citizens commission has already had a leadership battle, allegations of shady dealings and questions about its viability.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

They sat down in a shady spot near the tents.

From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.