shifty

[shif-tee]

adjective

shiftier, shiftiest 

1. resourceful; fertile in expedients.

2. given to or full of evasions; tricky.

   Synonyms: slippery, foxy, crafty

3. suggesting a deceptive or evasive character.

   a shifty look.

shifty

/ ˈʃɪftɪ /

adjective

1. given to evasions; artful

2. furtive in character or appearance

3. full of expedients; resourceful

Other Word Forms

• shiftily adverb
• shiftiness noun
• unshifty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shifty¹

First recorded in 1560–70; shift + -y ¹

Example Sentences

But those multimillion-dollar views come with a problem no amount of money can fix: The homes are built on some of the shiftiest and most unreliable soil in California.

From Los Angeles Times

Occult pyrotechnics and bloody business of all kinds are not allowed to obscure the interior shifts of the shifty Macbeths.

From Los Angeles Times

After acting a bit shifty throughout the finale, Gwen revealed she has a boyfriend.

From BBC

Against the quarterback known for his elusive and shifty scrambling, it was Justin Herbert who made the first big play with his legs.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has vowed to spend his second term pursuing his political enemies, including Schiff, whom he has variously described as a “liar,” “traitor,” “shifty,” “evil,” “pencil neck” and one of the country’s “enemies from within.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cagey 
• crafty 
• shrewd 
• slippery 
• sneaky 
• tricky 
• wily