SNEAKY Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

sneaky

adjective

ˈsnē-kē

Definition of sneaky

as in shady

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions his opponent's sneaky campaign manager was clearly up to something

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sneak

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a sneaky plan to replace the priceless painting with a copy

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 sneaky And don’t be afraid to protect yourself and your skin from all those sneaky germs lurking around you, hemlines aside. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026 Johnson says that utilizing the back of a door is a sneaky way to maximize your cabinet’s potential. — Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 From critical infrastructure exploits to sneaky post-quantum attacks, the security landscape is shifting fast. — Kim Key, PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2026 Even when the target insect does spot a dragonfly pursuer, these sneaky hunters use a trick called motion camouflage to make their pursuit less obvious. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sneaky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaky

Adjective

But for now, CyberLeek is trying to monetize the GTA 6 leaks by asking for shady donations.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Others sat in shady spots on Montrose Avenue where the parade units combined with waiting community groups to end the parade at the festival grounds.

— Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shady

Adjective

The clandestine manner in which LG monitors were installing ad-pushing software onto third-party devices, however, remains seriously concerning.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
The clandestine transits have changed the game for the Middle Eastern oil industry.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of clandestine

Adjective

Both shows make use of the parody defense, of course, that being the sly way for comedic artists to cash in on someone else’s intellectual property by insisting that their motives are honorably satirical.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
But it was filled with quicksilver, roller-coaster displays of virtuosity and the sly humor Lutoslawski and fellow Polish composer and pianist Andrzej Panufnik brought to their Paganini variations in its original 1941 iteration.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of sly

Adjective

And as the rapturous applause and screaming showed, such stealthy-chic designs, with small details and a sharp silhouette, still have maximum impact.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
The only quiet thing about it is the stealthy way that the tournament has advanced upon its rivals in the global mega-event category.

— Ben Ryder Howe, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stealthy

Adjective

Psyops can be overt or covert, but they’re designed with a clear objective, said Jan Goldman, a professor of intelligence and security studies at The Citadel who has also worked on psyops.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
In a recent presentation, OpenAI researchers described how AI agents used a covert message board to plan their next moves.

— Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of covert

Adjective

Deep underground salt behaves like a slow-moving plastic under the weight of the earth (salt creep).

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, was powered up in an underground tunnel near Geneva, Switzerland.

— USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of underground

Adjective

Contributor Yelena Alpert has a sneaking suspicion that these Frette slippers will last a lifetime, attributing her hypothesis to the shoe’s superior quality.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
The package includes free breakfast for your plus-one (no more sneaking snacks away from the conference), a signature drink each night (perfect for unwinding after your workday ends), and 1,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points.

— Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025

Definition of sneaking

Browse Nearby Words

sneak up

sneaky

sneer

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

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Synonyms of sneaky

adjective

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