shaky
Americanadjective
-
tending to shake or tremble.
-
trembling; tremulous.
-
liable to break down or give way; insecure; not to be depended upon.
a shaky bridge.
-
wavering, as in allegiance.
His loyalty, always shaky, was now nonexistent.
adjective
-
tending to shake or tremble
-
liable to prove defective; unreliable
-
uncertain or questionable
your arguments are very shaky
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shaky
Explanation
Something shaky is trembling — or just feels like it. When we're not confident, we feel shaky. Being shaky is something that happens to us all. The first day of a job or class can make anyone feel shaky — even the teacher or boss. When you get extremely nervous, your hands might literally shake. That's not fun, but it might help you remember what shaky means. A building in an earthquake and a tree in the wind can also be shaky. One person we hope is not shaky — in either way — is a surgeon.
Vocabulary lists containing shaky
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Feeling Faint: Synonyms for "Weak"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
New Zealand, which is home to 5 million people, is sometimes jokingly called the Shaky Isles due to the number of quakes it experiences.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2023
The band's era as chart-dominating stars had well and truly been slammed shut by Shaky.
From BBC • Dec. 20, 2022
Shaky supply chains prompted Firmenich to keep higher stocks of raw materials, resulting in a 5.9% drop in adjusted free cash flow, which it said was also hit by cost inflation.
From Reuters • Aug. 5, 2022
Shaky evidence: Certain top-selling tests are purported to identify food sensitivities by checking a user’s blood sample for IgG, an immune system antibody.
From Washington Post • May 30, 2022
Shaky at once left the room, and soon a little procession came slowly in.
From Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 by Elverson, James
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.
