SHADY Synonyms: 269 Similar and Opposite Words

shady

adjective

ˈshā-dē

Definition of shady

as in shaded

protected from the sun's rays a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception a shady business deal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in questionable

giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged cited some shady statistics to back up his argument

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shifty

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions shady characters hanging out in the park after nightfall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in notorious

not respectable a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shady Santa Margarita River Trail Looking for a shady spring or summertime hike? — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Earle ended up leaving the network and posting some shady comments on TikTok, leading Cooper to respond with a direct shot. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 Gonzalez has now revamped the lobby, created a private bar, lined the pool with blue-and-white tiles, and added a shady pergola on the terrace. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026 Seek out a shady table, whether by the sea, beneath pine and tamarisk trees, or on a village terrace. — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shady

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shady

Adjective

The main sala, an open pavilion or a shaded resting place, provides unobstructed coastline views.

— Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
The family-friendly experience will include H-E-B products and food sampling stations, a Spirit Salon offering face painting and airbrush tattoos, family games and a shaded lounge with a television.

— Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of shaded

Adjective

Meta will be subject to an injunction prohibiting it from making further false, misleading, or deceptive statements around its safety features.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
The agency has said deceptive or unfair data practices can violate existing consumer protection laws.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Adjective

The singer kept her cool through technical difficulties and captivated a drenched, shifty crowd, drawing them in with a warm smile and a euphonious delivery.

— DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Aug. 2026
No actress this century has been able to match Hathaway's slinky, shifty take on small-time thief Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of shifty

Adjective

Luke Halls’ video and projections add another layer of visual unease, allowing screens and technology inside the home to become as suspicious as its shadowy corners.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
What Washington could do China imports Iranian oil using a shadowy system that’s by design insulated from the US dollar system – and sanctions.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of shadowy

Adjective

Tashia McKenzie, 36, faces one count each of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits and second-degree larceny, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a news release Tuesday.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
Verification can be particularly important because fraudulent job listings have become a concern for applicants and job platforms alike.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of fraudulent

Adjective

Overt leaflet and loudspeaker campaigns, which the US military also used during the Gulf War and in Iraq and Afghanistan, were meant to weaken morale and instill fear (to dubious success).

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Though the current protests were sparked by the Kushner’s access to advantages from the Albanian government, the Sazan Island incident was a greater representation of Rama’s many dubious dealings.

— Naomi Tomky, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dubious

Browse Nearby Words

shadowy

shady

shaft

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Style

“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shady. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shady

adjective

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