sneaky
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.doing things in a secret and often dishonest way.
adj.acting in a stealthy or furtive manner, often with the intent to deceive or avoid detection.
Simple“It was a bit sneaky of him to read my private messages while I was out of the room.”
In context“The company used sneaky tactics to hide the extra fees until the very end of the checkout process.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.doing something quietly so that other people do not notice you.
adj.characterized by stealth or the ability to avoid observation through cleverness.
Simple“The cat was very sneaky, moving through the tall grass without making a sound.”
In context“The protagonist employs a sneaky approach to bypass the guards, relying on timing rather than brute force.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a secret camera or microphone used to watch or listen to people.
n.any device used for covert surveillance or monitoring. Informal and often used in technical or security contexts.
Simple“He was worried that someone had planted a sneaky in his office to record his meetings.”
In context“The private investigator checked the room for any sneakies that might have been installed by the rival firm.”
UsageUsually refers to physical hardware like small cameras or audio bugs.
Synonymsbughidden camera
From sneak + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.