Shifty Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ต๏ธ
shifty
[หสษชfti ]
Definitions
behavior
Deceitful or evasive; displaying a lack of trustworthiness.
Synonyms
deceitful, evasive, suspicious, untrustworthy.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| shifty |
Used to describe someone who seems suspicious or untrustworthy, often because they avoid eye contact or act nervously.
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| deceitful |
Implies someone who intentionally tries to deceive or mislead others by lying or hiding the truth.
|
| evasive |
Describes someone who avoids giving a direct answer or evades a topic, often to avoid responsibility or revealing the truth.
|
| untrustworthy |
Describes someone who is not reliable and cannot be depended upon to tell the truth or keep promises.
|
| suspicious |
Used to describe a person who shows distrust or lack of confidence in someone or something, often due to perceived dishonesty.
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Examples of usage
- He gave me a shifty look when I asked about his whereabouts.
- The shifty salesman couldn't look me in the eye.
- I don't trust him, he seems too shifty.
- The shifty behavior of the suspect raised red flags for the police.
- She noticed his shifty gaze during the conversation.
appearance
Having a sly or untrustworthy look.
Synonyms
crafty, sly, suspicious, untrustworthy.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| shifty |
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.
|
| sly |
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.
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| untrustworthy |
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.
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| suspicious |
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.
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| crafty |
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.
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Examples of usage
- The shifty character in the movie was always up to something.
- She avoided the shifty man standing in the alley.
- His shifty eyes darted around the room nervously.
- The detective noticed the shifty behavior of the suspect.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Origin of 'shifty'
The word 'shifty' originated in the mid-19th century, derived from the verb 'shift' with the suffix '-y'. It originally referred to someone who frequently changed their position or behavior, often with negative connotations. Over time, it has come to describe someone who is deceitful, evasive, or untrustworthy.
See also: shift, shiftiness, shifting, shiftingly, shifts.