shaky
Americanadjective
-
tending to shake or tremble.
-
trembling; tremulous.
-
liable to break down or give way; insecure; not to be depended upon.
a shaky bridge.
-
wavering, as in allegiance.
His loyalty, always shaky, was now nonexistent.
adjective
-
tending to shake or tremble
-
liable to prove defective; unreliable
-
uncertain or questionable
your arguments are very shaky
Other Word Forms
- shakily adverb
- shakiness noun
Etymology
Origin of shaky
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The war in Iran has added an additional layer of uncertainty on top of an already shaky macroeconomic climate,” a senior real-estate executive said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026
“The war in Iran has added an additional layer of uncertainty on top of an already shaky macroeconomic climate,” a manager from the real-estate industry told the survey.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Beijing has been seeking to steer a shaky economy onto a more stable path since the end of the pandemic, particularly by boosting consumption.
From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026
How Chelsea would love a centre-back with that kind of gumption, especially given the shaky defending they have shown at times.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026
I take a shaky step onto the glossy black floor of the prison.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.