Shifty: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who seems suspicious or untrustworthy, often because they avoid eye contact or act nervously.

• His shifty behavior made me suspect he wasn't telling the truth
• She gave me a shifty glance and quickly changed the subject

Implies someone who intentionally tries to deceive or mislead others by lying or hiding the truth.

• The deceitful salesman tricked the customers into buying faulty products
• Her deceitful nature eventually led to her downfall

Describes someone who avoids giving a direct answer or evades a topic, often to avoid responsibility or revealing the truth.

• When asked about his whereabouts, he gave an evasive response
• Her answers were so evasive that I couldn't figure out what she really meant

Describes someone who is not reliable and cannot be depended upon to tell the truth or keep promises.

• After he broke his promise again, I realized he was untrustworthy
• She proved to be untrustworthy after sharing my secret with others

Used to describe a person who shows distrust or lack of confidence in someone or something, often due to perceived dishonesty.

• His suspicious nature made it hard for him to trust anyone
• I found his behavior very suspicious and decided to investigate further

Used when describing someone who appears deceitful or not to be trusted, often due to their behavior or appearance. This word often carries a negative connotation.

• His shifty eyes made everyone in the room uneasy

Refers to someone who is cunning and capable of achieving their aims through secretive and often deceitful means. While typically negative, it can also be used lightheartedly or admiringly in certain contexts.

• With a sly grin, he convinced them to part with their money

Straightforwardly describes a person or thing that is not reliable or dependable, often due to past behavior or perceived intentions. It carries a clearly negative meaning.

• Given his history of lying, he's completely untrustworthy

Often used to describe someone who is mistrustful or doubtful about others' intentions. Unlike the other words, it focuses more on the feeling of mistrust rather than being deceitful.

• She was suspicious of his motives when he offered to help her move

Describes someone who is skilled at achieving their goals through clever and sometimes deceitful means. It can have a negative connotation, but sometimes it may be used in a positive way to describe cleverness and resourcefulness.

• She devised a crafty plan to avoid paying taxes