shaky Hear it!

shaky Definition

shaky (s̸hā)

adjective shaki·er, shaki·est

  1. not firm, substantial, or secure; weak, unsound, or unsteady, as a structure, belief, etc.
    1. trembling or tremulous
    2. nervous or jittery
  2. not dependable or reliable; questionable

shaky Related Forms

shaki·ly adverb shaki·ness noun

shaky Synonyms

shaky

modif.

  1. Not firm

    quivery, trembling, jellylike, all-a-quiver, unsettled, not set, yielding, unsteady, tottering, unsound, insecure, tremulous, unstable, infirm, jittery, nervous.

    Antonyms firm*, settled*, rigid. *

  2. Not reliable

    uncertain, tenuous, not dependable, not to be depended on, doubtful, questionable; see also unreliable 2, unsteady 2.

shaky Usage Examples

Preposition: at

back: In contrast, Leeds looked shaky at the back.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

look: John Gregory ' s job security looks a bit shaky - unsurprisingly.

Modifies a noun

  • foundation: The German economic recovery was based on shaky foundations.
  • grasp: Such an assumption belies a shaky grasp of what genes actually do.
  • start: The Nomads had a shaky start with a couple of unlucky points against them.
  • ground: Friday 8th December 2000 Morfa Stadium is on shaky ground.
  • leg: Dry mouth, shaky legs, blank mind... What the heck happened?
  • defense: The Magpies main concern is their shaky defense, having conceded eight goals in the same six fixtures.

Modifying Another Word

  • decidedly: After a decidedly shaky start against Coast Rica, the German defense has conceded just once in four games.
  • somewhat: A more serious disadvantage was his somewhat shaky memory.
  • rather: However, your grasp of reality may be rather shaky at times.
  • slightly: A slightly shaky picture taken of a 1930s car parked by the side of a suburban road.
  • pretty: This life is a pretty shaky situation, at best.
  • increasingly: In fact George Bush's chances of getting re elected next year are looking increasingly shaky.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: In contrast, Leeds looked shaky at the back.
  • feel: They both seemed very composed and I even overheard the judges laughing with them which made me feel even more shaky!
  • seem: He managed to meet her gaze - if he seemed terribly shaky, so much the better.
  • become: Without the full deity of Jesus Christ, God the Son, our salvation or guarantee to get into heaven becomes shaky.
  • get: The greater part of the manuscripts were in Casanova's handwriting, which I could see gradually beginning to get shaky with years.

Preposition: in

defense: Millwall started the most brightly in this match, pressing strongly in the first few minutes with the Clarets looking very shaky in defense.

Browse dictionary entries near shaky

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