sneaky

[ snee-kee ]

adjective

, sneak·i·er, sneak·i·est.

1. like or suggestive of a sneak; furtive; deceitful.

Other Words From

• sneaki·ly adverb
• sneaki·ness noun
• un·sneaky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneaky¹

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

Example Sentences

“MS is a sneaky disease,” she writes in the book.

From Los Angeles Times

In “Risky Business,” he was the high-strung pop of Cruise’s sneaky Joel Goodsen.

From Los Angeles Times

We also get the first sneaky nod to “The Wizard of Oz,” which “Agatha” will reflect in a mirror darkly, when a deputy describes a corpse as “really most sincerely dead.”

From Los Angeles Times

It means tackling the challenges and opportunities in life head-on rather than trying to find a sneaky or clever way around things.

From Los Angeles Times

The plot moves with the velocity of a gangster movie with a sneaky sense of humor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• devious
• disingenuous
• nasty
• shifty
• sly
• tricky