# sneaky

/ˈsniki/ (US) · /snˈiːki/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sneaky
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. dishonest or secret

adjective · CEFR B2

doing things in a secret and often dishonest way.

For teachers: acting in a stealthy or furtive manner, often with the intent to deceive or avoid detection.

- It was a bit sneaky of him to read my private messages while I was out of the room.
- The company used sneaky tactics to hide the extra fees until the very end of the checkout process.

### 2. quiet and clever

adjective · CEFR B2

doing something quietly so that other people do not notice you.

For teachers: characterized by stealth or the ability to avoid observation through cleverness.

- The cat was very sneaky, moving through the tall grass without making a sound.
- The protagonist employs a sneaky approach to bypass the guards, relying on timing rather than brute force.

### 3. surveillance device

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

a secret camera or microphone used to watch or listen to people.

For teachers: any device used for covert surveillance or monitoring. Informal and often used in technical or security contexts.

- He was worried that someone had planted a sneaky in his office to record his meetings.
- The private investigator checked the room for any sneakies that might have been installed by the rival firm.

Usage: Usually refers to physical hardware like small cameras or audio bugs.

## Examples

- He took a sneaky look at his birthday presents.
- The cat made a sneaky attempt to steal a piece of chicken from the kitchen counter while I wasn't looking.
- The marketing campaign used sneaky psychological tactics to encourage impulse buys without the customers realizing they were being manipulated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.