shadier; shadiest
1
: producing or affording shade
2
: sheltered from the sun's rays
3
a
: of questionable merit : uncertain, unreliable
shadily adverb
shadiness noun

Example Sentences

Their backyard is nice and shady. I don't trust him. He seems like a pretty shady character.
Recent Examples on the Web Crypto detractors, on the other hand, argue the bill lacks teeth in protecting customers from shady practices and that the CFTC might be the wrong agency to police it. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 2 Dec. 2022 Jury selection for Milton's case started last month, roughly two years after Nikola was accused of shady practices. CBS News, 14 Oct. 2022 That filing stemmed from the revelation of some very shady bets and trades, which led to a run on the exchange and federal investigations for fraud. Bygleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2022 In addition to just generally high-risk bets and shady companies with snappy names, there are actual crypto Ponzi schemes playing out. Allison Morrow, CNN, 15 Nov. 2022 Nightcrawler provides a thrilling look into the shady secrets of modern-age news with a pulse-pounding third act that shows all that can go wrong. Robert English, EW.com, 15 Nov. 2022 The wetlands are now named Las Lagunas de Anza and the area is shaggy and shady and deliciously green. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2022 This is, transparently, a terrible deal, and a seeming betrayal of that dream of crypto utopianism—the vision of a future without shady intermediaries. Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2022 The hotel exudes SoCal Spanish (Spanish Mission) style, from its terra-cotta tile roof and spring-fed swimming pool to its walking paths through shady date palms. Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shady.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shady was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near shady

Cite this Entry

“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shady. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Kids Definition

shady

adjective
shadier; shadiest
1
: casting a shadow : giving shade
2
: sheltered from the sun's rays
a shady grove
3
: not right or honest
a shady business deal
shadily adverb
shadiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shady

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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