shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē

shiftier; shiftiest

: full of or ready with expedients : resourceful

: given to deception, evasion, or fraud : tricky

: capable of evasive movement : elusive

a shifty boxer

: indicative of a tricky nature

shifty eyes

shiftily

ˈshif-tə-lē

adverb

shiftiness

ˈshif-tē-nəs

noun

Example Sentences

shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts shifty practices such as turning back the odometers on used cars

Recent Examples on the Web As one country after another succumbed to outbreaks this year, China kept the coronavirus at bay, buying valuable time to prepare for the inevitable: a variant of the virus so shifty and contagious that China, too, would struggle to contain it.

Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2022 UConn got on the board first with a 51-yard drive capped off by a shifty 16-yard run by Victor Rosa into the end zone.

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Nov. 2022 That was a 63-yarder to Shavers, who got 50 of the yards after a short catch and a shifty move that left three defenders grabbing for air.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2022 Mazzulla’s game plan allowed the shifty Morant to shoot jumpers instead of driving to the basket.

Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Nov. 2022 No actress this century has been able to match Hathaway's slinky, shifty take on small-time thief Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman.

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2022 Senior running back Elijah Collins took over from there, using power for an 8-yard gain and following that with a shifty cutback around the left end and a speed burst for a 15-yard touchdown run.

Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 1 Oct. 2022 Cotton is a big-play threat on the outside, and Ruffin is a shifty slot receiver.

Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 29 Sep. 2022 But — after a transition day near 80 Thursday — temperatures tumble into the 70s, signaling more shifty weather.

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2022 See More

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