What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shifty
Example
The salesman had a shifty look in his eyes when he tried to sell me the car. [shifty: adjective]
Example
I don't trust him, he always looks shifty when I ask him a question. [shifty: adverb]
sly
Example
He had a sly grin on his face when he told me the news. [sly: adjective]
Example
She used her sly charm to get what she wanted. [sly: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sly is more commonly used than shifty in everyday language. Sly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shifty is less common and refers to a specific type of behavior or appearance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shifty and sly?
Both shifty and sly are informal words, but sly can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the tone and context of the sentence.
