adjective
Uncommon
sneaky
SNEE-kee
Sneaky (adjective) means acting in a secretive, underhanded, or dishonest way. Example: “That was a sneaky move, hiding the evidence before the meeting.”
adjective
1
Acting in a secretive, underhanded, or dishonest way.
"That was a sneaky move, hiding the evidence before the meeting."
"The cat took a sneaky route around the fence to reach the birds."
How to use sneaky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something in a secretive or deceptive way — not always evil, sometimes just sly or clever.
Common pairings
a sneaky trick
sneaky little
a sneaky way of doing something
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sneaky.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- sneakies
- Comparative
- sneakier
- Superlative
- sneakiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
That was a _____ move, hiding the evidence before the meeting.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sneaky
See all rhymes for sneaky →Frequently asked questions
What does “sneaky” mean?
The word “sneaky” means acting in a secretive, underhanded, or dishonest way. In plain terms, doing something in a secretive or deceptive way — not always evil, sometimes just sly or clever.
How do you pronounce “sneaky”?
“Sneaky” is pronounced SNEE-kee (/ˈsniːki/ in IPA).
How do you use “sneaky” in a sentence?
Here is “sneaky” used in a sentence: “That was a sneaky move, hiding the evidence before the meeting.”
What is another word for “sneaky”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sneaky” include slippery, evasive and dodgy.
What part of speech is “sneaky”?
“Sneaky” is an adjective.
Is “sneaky” a common word?
“Sneaky” is an uncommon word in modern English.
