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Weaselly: meaning, definitions and examples

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weaselly

 

[ ˈwiːzəli ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

character trait

The term 'weaselly' describes a person exhibiting slyness or dishonesty. It often refers to someone who is evasive or untrustworthy, using deceitful tactics to escape responsibility or gain advantage. This unflattering character trait implies a lack of forthrightness and integrity, suggesting that the individual tries to manipulate situations to their benefit. People described as weaselly may use clever but sneaky behavior to outmaneuver others.

Synonyms

cunning, deceitful, duplicitous, sly, sneaky

Examples of usage

  • His weaselly tactics won him the deal, but no one trusts him now.
  • She gave a weaselly response to avoid answering the question directly.
  • You don't want to be seen as weaselly in a negotiation.
  • His weaselly behavior during the meeting made everyone uncomfortable.

Translations

Translations of the word "weaselly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 esquivo

🇮🇳 चालाक

🇩🇪 schlüpfrig

🇮🇩 licik

🇺🇦 лукавий

🇵🇱 przebiegły

🇯🇵 ずるい

🇫🇷 rusé

🇪🇸 astuto

🇹🇷 kurnaz

🇰🇷 교활한

🇸🇦 ماكر

🇨🇿 záludný

🇸🇰 zákerne

🇨🇳 狡猾的

🇸🇮 prebrisan

🇮🇸 snjallur

🇰🇿 ақылды

🇬🇪 ჭკვიანი

🇦🇿 süni

🇲🇽 astuto

Etymology

The word 'weaselly' is derived from the noun 'weasel,' which refers to a small, carnivorous animal from the Mustelidae family, often associated with traits like slyness and cunning behavior. The association between weasels and dishonesty likely comes from the way these animals can stealthily move and escape capture, giving rise to idioms and expressions that characterize people who behave deceitfully. 'Weaselly' began to be used in English around the mid-20th century to describe behaviors that are reminiscent of a weasel's nature. The negative connotations associated with being 'weaselly' are deeply entrenched in the perception of the weasel as a creature that is less than honest, thereby shaping the overall understanding and usage of the term in describing human behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,267, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.