weasely
Slippery and shifty
Weasely describes behavior that is evasive, sneaky, or dishonest—slipping out of commitments or responsibilities the way a weasel slips through narrow spaces.
A weasely answer avoids the question.
A weasely excuse strains credibility.
The word suggests someone untrustworthy who won't give you a straight answer: He got weasely when I asked where the money went.
Also spelled weaselly.
Avoiding direct response
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- elusiveHard to find
equivocating · noncommittal · cagey · hedging · vague · misleading · disingenuous · insincere
Cleverly deceptive
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
conniving · calculating · artful · guileful · wily · shrewd · underhanded · sneaky
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- unreliableNot consistently performing
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
crooked · false · fraudulent · corrupt · phony · swindling · backstabbing · disloyal
evasive
Avoiding direct response
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- dodgyQuestionable in character
elusive · equivocating · noncommittal · cagey · hedging · vague · misleading · disingenuous · insincere · duplicitous
sly
Cleverly deceptive
manipulative · conniving · calculating · artful · guileful · wily · shrewd · underhanded · sneaky · tricky
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- unreliableNot consistently performing
shady · crooked · false · fraudulent · corrupt · phony · swindling · backstabbing · disloyal · faithless
stealthy
Secretly cautious in movement
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
sneaking · skulking · lurking · prowling · sidling · creeping · shadowy · hidden · underhand · clandestine
weaselyforthright
Directly honest in manner
straightforward · direct · candid · honest · frank
weaselycourageous
Showing bravery under threat
brave · bold · principled · honorable · noble
weaselytrustworthy
Worthy of confidence
reliable · dependable · solid · straight-arrow · genuine
- weasel outEvade through cunning
- weasel wordsDeliberately vague qualifiers
- weasel wordingDeceptively imprecise language
- weasel clauseDeliberately vague contract language
- weasel familyCarnivorous mammals including badgers
- weasel wordedDeceptively noncommittal phrasing