shady

[shey-dee]

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.

shady

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shady¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   on the shady side of 40.

Example Sentences

I was eager to see how criminals make these shady deals with potentially treacherous employees at a time when cyber-attacks around the world are becoming more impactful and disruptive to everyday life.

From BBC

A white family takes her in, but seemingly not legally, and more shady dealings are revealed throughout the novel but never solved.

From Los Angeles Times

The FTC said Amazon was aware its practices might be questioned, pointing to internal documents in which executives and employees made comments like "subscription driving is a bit of a shady world".

From BBC

In fact, the biggest government initiative proposed in the document is deregulating food safety standards, which would make it easier for shady operations to sell goods at farmers markets.

From Salon

They strategically placed some of the tall plants to screen unsightly views and create shady moments.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crooked 
• dishonest 
• dubious 
• questionable 
• slippery 
• underhanded 
• unscrupulous