sneaky

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From sneak +‎ -y.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈsniːki/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -iːki

Adjective[edit]

sneaky (comparative sneakier, superlative sneakiest)

  1. Elusive; difficult to capture or observe due to constantly outwitting the adversaries.
    Catching those thieves will be hard: they're so sneaky!
    • 1995 April, Jeff Csatari, “Tackle Tips”, in Boys' Life, volume 85, number 4, Irving, Texas: Boy Scouts of America, Inc., →ISSN, page 42:
      Be sneaky. Fish frighten easily.
  2. Dishonest; deceitful.
    They played a sneaky trick on us.

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Further reading[edit]

Noun[edit]

sneaky (plural sneakies)

  1. (espionage, slang) Any device used for covert surveillance.
    • 1974, Miles Copeland, Without cloak or dagger: the truth about the new espionage, page 244:
      [] in cooperation with the National Security Agency, installs and maintains "sneakies" throughout the U.S.S.R. and Communist China — but increasingly, denied areas are surveyed more simply.
    • 1991, Chapman Pincher, The Truth about Dirty Tricks:
      [] has used travellers to plant 'sneakies' - small electronic transmitting devices which form part of a surveillance network.

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