shaky

[shey-kee]

adjective

shakier, shakiest 

1. tending to shake or tremble.

2. trembling; tremulous.

3. liable to break down or give way; insecure; not to be depended upon.

   a shaky bridge.

4. wavering, as in allegiance.

   His loyalty, always shaky, was now nonexistent.

shaky

/ ˈʃeɪkɪ /

adjective

1. tending to shake or tremble

2. liable to prove defective; unreliable

3. uncertain or questionable

   your arguments are very shaky

Other Word Forms

• shakily adverb
• shakiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shaky¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; shake + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The wealthiest keep spending robustly at a time when the job market is shaky and inflation is persistent, feeding a dynamic that is pushing the economy in two directions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With inflation still stubborn and people smarting from the higher prices induced by the president’s tariffs, the economy is on shaky ground.

Read more on Salon

The move could kick off a trend of data centers funded by junk bonds — debt issued by companies too financially shaky to be rated investment-grade by the ratings agencies.

Read more on MarketWatch

They’re managing this thing, selling holdings that look shaky before they turn into radioactive waste.

Read more on MarketWatch

While they have endured a shaky start to the season, the Gunners did strengthen in the summer and Slegers has a deeper squad to challenge the reigning champions.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• insecure 
• jittery 
• nervous 
• precarious 
• rickety 
• rocky 
• unsettled 
• unstable 
• unsteady 
• weak 
• wobbly