sneaky

[ snee-kee ]

/ ˈsni ki /

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See synonyms for: sneaky / sneakily / sneakiness on Thesaurus.com

Definition of sneaky

adjective, sneak·i·er, sneak·i·est.

like or suggestive of a sneak; furtive; deceitful.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of sneaky

First recorded in 1825–35; sneak + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM sneaky

sneak·i·ly, adverbsneak·i·ness, nounun·sneak·y, adjective

Words nearby sneaky

sneakernet, sneakers, sneaking, sneak preview, sneak thief, sneaky, sneaky pete, sneck, sneer, sneery, sneesh

How to use sneaky in a sentence

Uber and Lyft used sneaky tactics to avoid making drivers employees in California, voters say.
Gig workers and unions sue in California Supreme Court to have Prop 22 overturned|Faiz Siddiqui|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
So you could still ask the grandparents whether the present was received, which is the sneaky way of getting the couple in trouble.
Miss Manners: Young wheelchair user tired of nosy questions|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
In terms of how much time goes into making its components, no sandwich requires more actual work than a Thanksgiving sandwich, but because it is a vehicle for leftovers rather than the main event, making one always feels like a sneaky triumph.
20 Days of Turkey|Meghan McCarron|December 23, 2020|Eater
Flipping through one of these cookbooks almost feels sneaky, like you’re peeking into someone’s grandma’s recipe box to find her most treasured culinary secrets.
The Joy of Cooking Other People’s ‘Secret Family Recipes’|Amy McCarthy|September 11, 2020|Eater

Nobody checks where the reviews come from, so anybody can write anything about your product here including sneaky competitors trying to manipulate your rating.
How to turn your customer feedback into a driving force for your product|Maria Kazakova|June 18, 2020|Search Engine Watch
"Hello Kitty" as a double entendre is actually surprisingly modest and sneaky.
Avril Lavigne’s Dumb ‘Hello Kitty’ Video Is Rife with Cultural Appropriation|Amy Zimmerman|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The California computer hack that threatened women, including Miss Teen USA, will get jail time for his sneaky sexploits.
College Student is Sentenced for ‘Sextortion’|Lizzie Crocker|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Ryan Braun typical sneaky Jew,” tweeted one upstanding sports fan last month.
Ryan Braun and Anti-Semites|Emily L. Hauser|August 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is not flattering in the least to have my utterly transparent agenda presented as somehow sneaky and hidden.
Not What the Man Said|David Frum|February 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Channeling his best Madoff—with a dash of Paulson and Falcone—Richard Gere plays a sneaky financier in ‘Arbitrage.’
In ‘Arbitrage,’ Richard Gere Shows How the Price Is Right|Daniel Gross|September 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To make things worse, the small percentage of hydrogen in the atmosphere got sneaky sometimes.
Unwise Child|Gordon Randall Garrett
I can't forgive him for the sneaky way he went to work— counting on our suspecting young Davis if the matter came to light.
Justice (Second Series Plays)|John Galsworthy
The old rascal's taken a dislike to me, and I'd be afraid he'd give me a sneaky bite, or claw me.
The Boy Scouts' First Camp Fire|Herbert Carter
Anything mean, anything sneaky, could not live in the steady light of those dark-grey eyes.
Fifty-Two Stories For Girls|Various
Ef he'd 'a' missed school one day he knowed two sneaky chaps thet would 'a' robbed that nest, either goin' or comin'.
Sonny, A Christmas Guest|Ruth McEnery Stuart