Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

sneaking

[snee-king] / ˈsni kɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
sly
Synonyms
STRONG
arch bluffing calculating conniving crooked designing dissembling intriguing mean plotting scheming slick smart smooth
WEAK
artful astute cagey canny captious covert crafty cunning deceitful deceptive delusive dishonest dishonorable double-dealing elusive foxy furtive guileful illusory impish ingenious insidious mischievous roguish secret secretive sharp shifty shrewd sneaky stealthy subtle surreptitious traitorous treacherous tricky underhand unscrupulous wily
Antonyms
STRONG
aboveboard artless honest
ADJECTIVE
stealthy
Synonyms
STRONG
skulking slinking sneak
WEAK
catlike catty clandestine covert crafty cunning enigmatic feline furtive hush-hush noiseless private secret shifty silent slinky sly sneaky sub-rosa surreptitious under wraps undercover underhand wily

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.

One post tags Rihanna, whom she challenged "to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Before you envision Emily Post clutching her pearls at the thought of sneaking out without a proper goodbye, know that etiquette isn’t about rigidity—it’s all about context.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

In one post on X, Ortiz wrote: "Are you there? ... say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

To the uninitiated, though, even amid steady laughter and a sneaking concern for this silly friendship to right itself, it may come off as much ado about who knows what.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

I consider sneaking back into bed, trying to fall asleep, as I should.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day