sneaky
UK: ˈsniːki | US: ˈsniːki
adj. behaving in a secret and dishonest way
adj. moving or acting quietly to avoid being noticed
The word "sneaky" derives from the verb "sneak," which originated in the late 16th century, possibly from Old English snīcan (to creep) or related to Middle Low German snīken (to sneak). The suffix "-y" transforms it into an adjective, emphasizing a characteristic of stealth or deceit. The evolution reflects a shift from literal creeping to metaphorical dishonesty.
The cat took a sneaky approach to catch the bird.
He gave me a sneaky smile, as if hiding a secret.
She made a sneaky attempt to copy the answers during the test.
The thief moved in a sneaky manner to avoid the cameras.
Their sneaky plan to skip the meeting was discovered.