shady

adjective

ˈshā-dē How to pronounce shady (audio)
Definition of shadynext
1
as in shaded
protected from the sun's rays a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool

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2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception a shady business deal

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3
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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4
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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5
as in notorious
not respectable a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society

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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 When the men’s shady deals land them all in danger, the women must learn to survive the jungle – and each other. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Finally, look out for shady business practices or outright scams when buying or selling a watch. — Joe D'allegro, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 Bulbs that do well in shadier areas include snowdrops, winter aconite, and Grecian windflower. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 The paint was soon being mass-produced in Europe, inspiring shady dealings that even included outright grave robbing to acquire as many mummies as possible. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 29, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shady
  1. shaded
  2. deceptive
  3. questionable
  4. shifty
  5. notorious
  6. shadowy
  7. fraudulent
  8. dubious
Adjective
  • The balloting was marred by violence and irregularities, including a deadly shooting, a bomb blast and pre-shaded ballots that force delayed voting in dozens of precincts.
    — Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the town of Maluso on Basilan Island was put under the control of the Commission on Elections after pre-shaded ballots were found in 36 out of 68 precincts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of shaded
Adjective
  • In past elections, deceptive political robocalls have resulted in significant fines associated with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law at the center of the petition.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The film chronicled Gortner’s youth as a Pentecostal preacher in the American South and exposed the deceptive practices used to bilk believers out of their money.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • That’s the only real update beyond what has already been announced, including cornerback Xavier Lucas still being out after initially being deemed questionable earlier in the week.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Rob Blanchard, spokesman for Lamont’s reelection campaign, countered Wednesday that Fazio recently proposed a questionable income tax-cutting plan that could weaken the state’s strong financial reputation.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of questionable
Adjective
  • In the Week 2 overtime thriller against the Indianapolis Colts, Johnson’s shifty play alongside Walker gave Kansas City what could quietly be one of the league’s best one-two punches in the backfield.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In that section, gruesome murders have spooked what few locals there are, and the boy, Caleb (Atticus Affleck), has a shifty, older-than-his years air about him that makes farmer Emmett (Scoot McNairy) quite unsettled.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shifty
Adjective
  • While expected, the decision is notable because Rasmussen — beyond being one of MLB’s best pitchers — is a notorious Yankee killer.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • During the Malaysian Grand Prix's previous run from 1999-2017, the track became notorious for sudden downpours which made for thrilling races and some unexpected results.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of notorious
Adjective
  • The song is filled with medieval antisemitism about shadowy figures, dark money and power as the force controlling the media and the government.
    — Kenneth L. Marcus, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire (Sarsgaard) hellbent on buying up the glens.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of shadowy
Adjective
  • Prosecutors allege the crew printed fraudulent UPS labels to reroute boxes nationwide.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Rush’s fraudulent conduct cost the federal government approximately $194 million in total losses, according to the Justice Department.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Publicly available information from the Pike case, for instance, suggests that the drug may have been of dubious quality and extravasated during administration by Tennessee prison employees.
    — Dr. Jacob Appel, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The editorial praises the Shedd for trying to save the whales in this time of crisis, even though the animals had a record of previous poor living conditions and dubious care.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dubious

Browse Nearby Words

shadowy
shady
shaft
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Cite this Entry

“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shady. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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