dodgy
Not quite trustworthy
Dodgy is British slang for something questionable, unreliable, or potentially dangerous.
A dodgy character seems untrustworthy.
A dodgy deal might be fraudulent.
A dodgy knee gives trouble.
The word suggests something not quite right without specifying exactly what's wrong: The whole situation felt a bit dodgy.
Secretly dishonest or unfair
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- crookedBent or dishonest
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- dishonestInclined to deceive
deceitful · unscrupulous · illicit · fraudulent · sketchy · shifty · sly · devious
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- iffyUncertain, questionable
off · funny · peculiar · odd · strange · irregular · anomalous · murky
Crumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
- undependableNot consistently trustworthy
untrustworthy · temperamental · patchy · hit-or-miss · spotty · wonky · glitchy · buggy
Of poor craftsmanship
rubbish · naff · tacky · inferior · second-rate · subpar · deficient · amateurish
Apt to cause harm
- perilousFraught with danger
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- unsafeLikely to cause harm
precarious · dicey · hairy · tricky · fraught · high-stakes · volatile · touch-and-go
underhanded
Secretly dishonest or unfair
dishonest · deceitful · unscrupulous · illicit · fraudulent · sketchy · shifty · sly · devious · crafty
fishy
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
iffy · off · funny · peculiar · odd · strange · irregular · anomalous · murky · unclear
flaky
Crumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- inconsistentLacking steady uniformity
undependable · untrustworthy · temperamental · patchy · hit-or-miss · spotty · wonky · glitchy · buggy · faulty
shoddy
Of poor craftsmanship
ropey · rubbish · naff · tacky · inferior · second-rate · subpar · deficient · amateurish · botched
dangerous
Apt to cause harm
- perilousFraught with danger
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
unsafe · precarious · dicey · hairy · tricky · fraught · high-stakes · volatile · touch-and-go · gamble
- Aussie slangarvo, bogan, brekkie, chook, cobber
- British Englishaluminium, aubergine, behaviour, biscuit, bonnet
- Britishismsbloke, blimey, bloody, cheers, loo
- Questionabledubious, shady, fishy, sketchy, iffy
- Regional Slangy'all, bless your heart, cattywampus, ope, you betcha
- British slangblag, bloke, bodge, blagger, bobby
dodgyhonest
Free from deception
trustworthy · sincere · genuine · straight · upstanding
dodgylegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
sound · solid · genuine · quality · first-rate
- dodged a bulletNarrowly avoided serious trouble
- dodging a bulletNarrowly avoiding harm
- dodge a bulletNarrowly avoid disaster
- dodged bulletAvoided serious harm narrowly
- dodge ballThrowing game with elimination
- draft dodgerOne who avoids compulsory enlistment
dodge, dodging, dodged, dodger, dodgier, dodgiest, dodginess, dodgers