Meaning & use

shady

adjective·Everyday

(Informal) Of doubtful honesty or legality; suspicious in character or dealings.

See it in a sentence

The used car salesman seemed shady, so she decided to shop elsewhere.

Police investigated the company's shady business practices for months.

A note on using this word

Shady also has a literal meaning, describing a place sheltered from direct sunlight, such as a shady spot under a tree.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

trustworthyhonest

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade.

They set up their picnic in a shady corner of the park.

Make it your own

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