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shiftiness

NOUN
indirection
Synonyms
STRONG
artifice bunk cheating chicane chicanery corruption craft craftiness criminality crookedness cunning deceit deviousness dishonesty double-dealing duplicity faithlessness falsehood falsity flimflam fraud fraudulence graft guile hocus-pocus infamy infidelity insidiousness mendacity perfidiousness perfidy racket rascality shadiness slyness sneakiness stealing swindle treachery trickery trickiness unscrupulousness wiliness
WEAK
fourberie hanky-panky improbity sharp practice underhandedness
Antonyms
STRONG
artlessness constancy fairness faithfulness fidelity forthrightness frankness goodness honesty honor innocence loyalty openness reality sincerity truth truthfulness
NOUN
deceit
Synonyms
STRONG
ambidexterity ambidextrousness artifice cheating chicane chicanery craft craftiness cunning deceitfulness deception dishonesty dissimulation double-dealing duplicity fraud fraudulence guile hypocrisy imposition pretense slyness trapping treachery trickery
WEAK
cozening defrauding dirty dealing dirty pool dissemblance entrapping overreaching smoke and mirrors two-facedness two-timing underhandedness
Antonyms
STRONG
artlessness fairness forthrightness frankness honesty honor openness reality sincerity trustworthiness truth truthfulness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some readers may be mollified by this—or amused by Mr. Pappalardo’s explanation that telling the tale of Borger required some shiftiness since “it’s just that kind of town.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The “This Week” host grilled Vance about the Homan bribery report and criticized Vance’s shiftiness.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025

For a long while, Newsom’s shiftiness seemed to elude his self-perception.

From Slate • Aug. 26, 2025

What Iverson saw was “that type of game where everybody just fall in love with it,” Hyland said — meaning his speed, his scoring, his shiftiness with the ball.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2023

A hundred expressions chased each other across Loki’s face: cunning and shiftiness, truculence and confusion.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman