shakier; shakiest
1
: characterized by shakes
shaky timber
2
a
: lacking stability : precarious
a shaky economy
performed well after a shaky start
b
: lacking in firmness (as of beliefs or principles)
c
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky experimental procedures
shaky data
3
a
: somewhat unsound in health
b
: characterized by shaking
4
: likely to give way or break down
shakily adverb
shakiness noun

Examples of shaky in a Sentence

She took a few shaky steps before she collapsed. Her commitment to the cause seems shaky. Their marriage is on shaky ground. The team has performed better lately after getting off to a shaky start.
Recent Examples on the Web Back in 2016, things got shaky for Ye when some of his Saint Pablo Tour performances were derailed by rantings and ravings. Angel Diaz, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 Nvidia swung through a shaky day after coming off a 5.5% drop on Friday, which was its worst day since May. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 11 Mar. 2024 Awards season had a shaky start, with Golden Globes host Jo Koy facing criticism for some truly unfunny jokes about Barbie and Taylor Swift back in January. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Without a formal congregation, unlike most other churches, Brown said raising awareness about the chapel’s shaky future has been his best option. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The Halos still have Trout, a three-time MVP, plus Brandon Drury, Taylor Ward, and injury-prone Anthony Rendon but that might not be enough to support a shaky pitching staff led by Reid Detmers, Griffin Canning, and likely-to-be-overused star closer Carlos Estevez. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Being in the midst of a relationship — albeit a somewhat shaky long-distance one — Matt didn’t want to make a move. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 If those selections come with poor results for Indiana — via trade or via an actual pick — then their 2024 trade deadline moves could look shaky. Tony East, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But 2023’s strikes and box office malaise, combined with predictions of production slowdowns and Netflix’s big comeback, have made things seem especially shaky for old school Hollywood in 2024. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shaky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaky was in 1703

Dictionary Entries Near shaky

Cite this Entry

“Shaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaky. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shaky

adjective
shakier; shakiest
1
a
: lacking firmness
b
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky data
2
: marked by shaking : trembling
3
: likely to give way or break down
shakily adverb
shakiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shaky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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