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

Sneaking away from official business in Washington D.C.,

From Salon • May 16, 2024

Sneaking in and out of Biafra, he located the first planes and hired the first pilots.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2023

Sneaking over Serbia’s northern border with the European Union neighbor often takes months because Hungary has put up two rows of barbed wire fence and deployed heavy security to stop migration.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2022

As far as grandchildren go, the star said he hopes "to be the mischievous grandfather. Sneaking them a little candy when they're not supposed to have it."

From Fox News • Jan. 28, 2021

Sneaking it home on the bus, hiding it in the bottom drawer of his room, he was terrified of discovery.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier