Shiftily

Adverb describing a manner of behaving or expressing oneself that is characterized by evasiveness, dishonesty, or inconsistency. It signifies an attitude of shifting or dodging responsibilities, answers, or commitments, often accompanied by suspicious or furtive actions. The term can also imply a lack of straightforwardness.

Shiftily meaning with examples

• When questioned about her whereabouts the night before, she responded shiftily, glancing away and avoiding eye contact, which only raised more suspicion among her friends about her honesty.
• As he spoke about the project's delays, his gaze darted around the room shiftily, prompting his manager to question whether he was hiding some important information about the setbacks.
• She moved shiftily in her seat, fidgeting with her hands and casting nervous glances at the clock, as if she was expecting someone to interrupt the meeting at any moment.
• The politician answered the reporter's questions shiftily, changing the subject often and providing vague responses that left the audience frustrated and unconvinced of his sincerity.
• His shiftily delivered excuses for not completing the assignment revealed a lack of responsibility, leading the teacher to doubt his commitment to the class.