What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sly
Example
He had a sly smile on his face when he told the joke. [sly: adjective]
Example
She made a sly comment about her boss's outfit. [sly: adjective]
sneaky
Example
He took a sneaky peek at her phone when she wasn't looking. [sneaky: adjective]
Example
She had a sneaky suspicion that her friend was lying to her. [sneaky: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sneaky is more commonly used than sly in everyday language. Sneaky is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while sly is less common and may be associated with more formal or literary language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sly and sneaky?
While both sly and sneaky are informal words, sly may be perceived as more formal or literary due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.
