sneaking

[ snee-king ]

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.

sneaking

/ 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 )

Derived Forms

• ˈsneakingly, adverb
• ˈsneakingness, noun

Other Words From

• sneaking·ly adverb
• sneaking·ness noun
• un·sneaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneaking¹

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

Example Sentences

Early testing around the office shows the legs and torso sneaking, bouncing, shuffling and strutting through Imagineering.

From TechCrunch

There’s a lot of joy that I see in their interviews together, about their story, how they met, the sneaking around… it almost becomes like a “Great Muppet Caper.”

From Washington Blade

I soon saw why and could not resist sneaking a few candid shots.

From The Daily Beast

In particular, Skylar had been caught frequently sneaking out of her first-floor bedroom window at night.

From The Daily Beast

And I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not being all that helpful with health care implementation.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, may we suggest pulling a Ferris Bueller and sneaking out for a day on the town?

From The Daily Beast

Does anyone else feel Pippa Middleton's profile quietly sneaking back up again?

From The Daily Beast

Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once?

From Project Gutenberg

"And I'll tell what I know about your sneaking in and out of the dormitories at night," added Paxton.

From Project Gutenberg

Osborne is a sneaking Yankee, an abolitionist, and the old fool can't keep his mouth shut.

From Project Gutenberg

Literature, I do believe hes been and done some low-down, sneaking good action.

From Project Gutenberg

I never waited for to look further, but uncocked my gun and went sneaking back on my tiptoes as fast as ever I could.

From Project Gutenberg