Synonyms

sneaky

American

[snee-kee] / ˈsni ki /

adjective

sneakier, sneakiest

like or suggestive of a sneak; furtive; deceitful.

Other Word Forms

sneakily adverb
sneakiness noun
unsneaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of sneaky

First recorded in 1825–35; sneak + -y ¹

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.

That's because her furniture, clothes and even members of her family all made sneaky appearances to prank her as part of Michael McIntyre's Big Show.

From BBC

She couldn’t talk very well because a sneaky little fear had crept back and she was holding her breath to help the plane land.

From Literature

“Yes, I do,” I say with a sneaky smile.

From Literature

JSN is a sneaky outside pick to win MVP, though that award almost always goes to the winning quarterback.

From The Wall Street Journal

The following year it was sneaky Canadian Shania Twain and a sus character from England referred to only as Sting.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023