SHAKY Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

shaky

adjective

ˈshā-kē

Definition of shaky

as in shaking

marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements the old man's hands were so shaky that I was afraid he'd drop the glass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in questionable

giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged results that were arrived at using some shaky experimental procedures

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shaky After soaring for years, AI stocks have become shakier on worries that their prices shot too high and that demand for chips may fizzle out if AI does not produce as much profit as hoped. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Leading up to his entrance, a shaky camera view teased shots of the singer on screen hiding out in the wings of the arena. — Sydney Gaw, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026 According to a recent survey published by Deloitte, consumer sentiment remains shaky, with 57% of Americans expecting the economy to worsen in the next six months — the highest figure the company has reported since 2020. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026 Why more training won’t fix this The standard corporate response to shaky AI results has been more training. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaky

Adjective

By the spring of 2023, Billy Ray Corbin had lost more than 15 percent of his body weight and was woozy and wobbly on his feet.

— Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Then came a series defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with two home run balls against Kenley Jansen in the ninth of the series finale serving as another microcosm of Detroit’s wobbly season.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wobbly

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

Adjective

But revenue coming in at double the projections is not disputable and cannot happen if the tax base runs away.

— Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
However, disputable refereeing decisions, especially in the matches against Italy and Spain, led to allegations that South Korea may have benefited from favorable officiating.

— Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026

Definition of disputable

Adjective

Medical uses Buprenorphine’s principal use is in the treatment of OUD, a chronic condition characterized by problematic opioid use despite harmful consequences.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
The Fire Center said in its update that those conditions could be problematic for firefighters.

— Carly Sauvageau, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of problematic

Adjective

Even if temperatures were to sharply drop, the recovery of most corals is doubtful.

— Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
For much of last year, Head Start, the federal program that provides child-care and preschool services for low-income families, appeared to have a doubtful future.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of doubtful

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
As Joan Acocella wrote for this magazine, in 2008, a suspicious number of cures happen to include alcohol as a main ingredient.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of suspicious

Adjective

That claim is debatable as the original date of construction is unknown.

— Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Luxury taxes are of debatable worth in sports anyway; in a division where the richest can already spend far more than the rest, imbuing them with even greater resources is antithetical to competitive balance.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of debatable

Browse Nearby Words

Shaktis

shaky

shall

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shaky

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes