sneaking
adjective
sneak·ing ˈsnē-kiŋ 
1
: mean, contemptible
2
: characteristic of a sneak : furtive, underhanded
3
a
: not openly expressed or acknowledged
a sneaking respect for culture
H. A. Burton
H. A. Burton b
: that is a persistent conjecture
a sneaking suspicion
sneakingly adverb
Synonyms
- furtive
- shady
- shifty
- slippery
- sly
- sneaky
- stealthy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
never let one of those sneaking salespeople into your house harbored a sneaking admiration for his chief business rival
Word History
First Known Use
1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1
sneaking 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions never let one of those sneaking salespeople into your house Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shady
- sneaky
- cheating
- furtive
- stealthy
- sly
- shifty
- clandestine
- lying
- dark
- slippery
- close
- cunning
- covert
- crooked
- treacherous
- slick
- deceptive
- secretive
- crafty
- wily
- deceiving
- devious
- dishonest
- defrauding
- artful
- foxy
- underhanded
- dissembling
- tricky
- duplicitous
- reticent
- guileful
- closemouthed
- underhand
- devious
- deceitful
- insidious
- trickish
- knavish
- perfidious
- untrustworthy
- serpentine
- mendacious
- untruthful
- two-faced
- double-dealing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open
- direct
- plain
- forthright
- straightforward
- candid
- frank
- honest
- aboveboard
- plainspoken
- truthful
- trustworthy
- foursquare
2
as in sneak
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others harbored a sneaking admiration for his chief business rival Synonyms & Similar Words
- sneak
- clandestine
- covert
- undercover
- underground
- stealth
- surreptitious
- private
- sneaky
- furtive
- stealthy
- backstairs
- secret
- underhanded
- underhand
- privy
- undisclosed
- hidden
- hole-and-corner
- secreted
- restricted
- behind-the-scenes
- hugger-mugger
- hush-hush
- classified
- confidential
- concealed
- top secret
- subterranean
- back-channel
- off-the-books
- unexposed
- closed-door
- off-the-record
- unadvertised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- overt
- open
- public
- avowed
- acknowledged
- undisguised
- unconcealed
- evident
- obvious
- clear
- unrestricted
- straightforward
- plain
- manifest
- unclassified
- aboveboard
- patent
3
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust a sneaking two-timer who has completely lost his wife's trust Synonyms & Similar Words
- lame
- dirty
- nasty
- cheap
- pitiful
- mean
- disgusting
- wretched
- grubby
- scurvy
- sorry
- vile
- hateful
- ratty
- deplorable
- lousy
- scabby
- paltry
- scummy
- cruddy
- revolting
- despicable
- contemptible
- base
- pitiable
- shameful
- detestable
- odious
- loathsome
- repugnant
- dastardly
- abominable
- disreputable
- sordid
- craven
- unscrupulous
- shabby
- abhorrent
- dishonorable
- reptilian
- cowardly
- repulsive
- low
- disgraceful
- ignoble
- ignominious
- squalid
- discreditable
- execrable
- unethical
- condemnable
- reprehensible
- unprincipled
- revulsive
- reproachable
- censurable
- blamable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- creditable
- laudable
- commendable
- scrupulous
- admirable
- praiseworthy
- honest
- right
- noble
- meritorious
- good
- upright
- honorable
- redoubtable
- moral
- reputable
- ethical
- virtuous
- principled
- righteous
- high-minded
- right-minded
sneaking
2 of 2verb
1
as in lurking
to move about in a sly or secret manner the little kids sneak around upstairs when they're supposed to be in bed Synonyms & Similar Words
- lurking
- stealing
- slipping
- sliding
- skulking
- slinking
- crawling
- creeping
- tiptoeing
- snaking
- shirking
- mooching
- inching
- mousing
- pussyfooting
- edging
- padding
- worming
- ghosting
2
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way sneak the topic into the conversation any way you can Synonyms & Similar Words
- infiltrating
- inserting
- slipping
- introducing
- winding
- worming
- creeping
- working in
- insinuating
- wriggling
- wiggling
- edging
- interpolating
- interposing