sneaking

American  

[snee-king] / ˈsni kɪŋ /

adjective

1. acting in a furtive or underhand way.

2. deceitfully underhand, as actions; contemptible.

3. secret; not generally avowed, as a feeling, notion, suspicion, etc.

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sneaking British  

/ ˈsniːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. acting in a furtive or cowardly way

2. secret

   a sneaking desire to marry a millionaire

3. slight but nagging (esp in the phrase a sneaking suspicion )

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Other Word Forms

• sneakingly
  adverb
• sneakingness
  noun
• unsneaking
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sneaking

First recorded in 1575–85; sneak + -ing ²

Example Sentences

A group of women linked to Islamic State jihadists arrived in Australia on Thursday, returning home years after allegedly sneaking into Syria to join the group's self-declared caliphate.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

For most, this meant first sneaking across the Russian border at night with the assistance of a guide.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

One post tags Rihanna, whom she challenged "to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

In one post on X, Ortiz wrote: "Are you there? ... say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

He was ready to say sheepishly, “I guess I didn’t do such a great job of sneaking out. I guess the guards saw me, after all.”

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix