different between sneaky vs snaky

English

Etymology

From sneak +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sni?ki/
• Rhymes: -i?ki

Adjective

sneaky (comparative sneakier, superlative sneakiest)

1. Difficult to catch due to constantly outwitting the adversaries

   Catching those thieves will be hard: they're so sneaky!

2. Dishonest; deceitful.

   They played a sneaky trick on us.

Synonyms

• slippery
• evasive, dodgy

Derived terms

• sneaky suspicion

Related terms

• sneak

Translations

Further reading

• sneaky in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• sneaky in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Noun

sneaky (plural sneakies)

1. (espionage, slang) Any device used for covert surveillance.
   • 1974, Miles Copeland, Without cloak or dagger: the truth about the new espionage (page 244)

     […] in cooperation with the National Security Agency, installs and maintains "sneakies" throughout the U.S.S.R. and Communist China — but increasingly, denied areas are surveyed more simply.

   • 1991, Chapman Pincher, The Truth about Dirty Tricks

     […] has used travellers to plant 'sneakies' - small electronic transmitting devices which form part of a surveillance network.

Anagrams

• Kaysen, Sankey, Yankes, snakey

English

Alternative forms

• snakey

Etymology

snake +? -y

Adjective

snaky (comparative snakier, superlative snakiest)

1. Resembling or relating to snakes.
2. Windy; winding; twisty; sinuous, wavy.
   • 1942, Emily Carr, “Chain Gang”, in The Book of Small:^[1]

     The nuns’ veils billowed and flapped behind the snaky line of girls as if the sisters were shooing the serpent from the Garden of Eden.

3. (obsolete) sly; cunning; deceitful.
4. (obsolete) Covered with serpents; having serpents.
   • 1634, John Milton, Comus, lines 447-452,^[2]

     What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield

     That wise Minerva wore, unconquered virgin,

     Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone,

     But rigid looks of chaste austerity,

     And noble grace that dashed brute violence

     With sudden adoration and blank awe?

   • 1700, John Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite,”^[3]

     His hat adorned with wings disclosed the god,

     And in his hand he bore the sleep-compelling rod;

     Such as he seemed, when, at his sire’s command,

     On Argus’ head he laid the snaky wand.

Translations

Anagrams

• Yanks, nasky, sanky, yanks