shifty
Hard to pin
Shifty describes someone who seems untrustworthy or evasive—the kind of person whose eyes dart around, who won't give a straight answer.
A shifty look or shifty behavior suggests deception or hidden motives: He seemed shifty, always glancing toward the exit.
The word implies constant small movements, as if ready to dodge or slip away.
Cleverly deceptive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
duplicitous · devious · underhanded · scheming · treacherous · conniving · fraudulent · disingenuous
Hard to find
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- cageyReluctant to share information
noncommittal · equivocal · vague · indirect · hedging · sidestepping · deflecting · circumlocutory
Of uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
- fishyArousing doubt, colloquially
sketchy · untrustworthy · unreliable · disreputable · unsavory · seedy · sleazy · off
sly
Cleverly deceptive
untrustworthy · duplicitous · devious · underhanded · scheming · treacherous · conniving · fraudulent · disingenuous · insincere
elusive
Hard to find
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
cagey · noncommittal · equivocal · vague · indirect · hedging · sidestepping · deflecting · circumlocutory · prevaricating
questionable
Of uncertain validity
fishy · sketchy · untrustworthy · unreliable · disreputable · unsavory · seedy · sleazy · off · iffy
fidgety
Nervously unable to settle
squirming · twitchy · jittery · antsy · agitated · uncomfortable · on-edge · edgy · anxious · unsettled
shiftyhonest
Free from deception
trustworthy · straightforward · upright · honorable · honourable
- night shiftOvernight work period
- shift workerPerson working set periods
- shift gearsAlter one's approach abruptly
- stick shiftHand-operated gear selector
- swing shiftsWork schedules between day and night
- day shiftWork period during sunlight
shift, shifted, shifting, shifts, shiftless, shiftiness, gearshift, shifter, shiftily