adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈsniːki/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːki
CMU ARPABET:S N IY1 K IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Elusive; difficult to capture or observe due to constantly outwitting the adversaries.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Catching those thieves will be hard: they're so sneaky!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Dishonest; deceitful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They played a sneaky trick on us.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Any device used for covert surveillance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: espionage, government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
achieved success in business only by underhand methods
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: underhand, underhanded
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English sneak Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English sneaky From sneak + -y.
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
хітры
(xitry)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Bulgarian:
таен
(taen)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Bulgarian:
скрит
(skrit)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Finnish:
ovela
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
French:
furtif
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
French:
insaisissable
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
German:
raffiniert
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Italian:
furtivo
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Italian:
sfuggevole
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Italian:
sfuggente
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Latvian:
zaglīgs
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Macedonian:
лукав
(lukav)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Middle English:
sleighty
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Portuguese:
malandro
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Portuguese:
esquivo
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Russian:
хитрый
(xitryj)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Russian:
изворотливый
(izvorotlivyj)
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Spanish:
escurridizo
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
Turkish:
sofistike
— difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries
