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
Synonyms
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
Still, starting out on such shaky financial ground was far from ideal.
—
Amy Landino, Contributor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
And the job market is still shaky: at 5.6 percent, unemployment in Nevada is the worst in the country, way above the national rate of 4.1 percent.
—Paula Ramon, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
While his accent is still shaky as hell, Hardy brings a believable weariness to Eddie this time around that feels right for a man who’s been living with an alien infection for about a year.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2024
Officials said three of the county's five units were crucial to bolstering otherwise shaky internet connections at the polls during the recent primary election.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shaky 
Amy Landino, Contributor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
And the job market is still shaky: at 5.6 percent, unemployment in Nevada is the worst in the country, way above the national rate of 4.1 percent.
—Paula Ramon, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
While his accent is still shaky as hell, Hardy brings a believable weariness to Eddie this time around that feels right for a man who’s been living with an alien infection for about a year.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2024
Officials said three of the county's five units were crucial to bolstering otherwise shaky internet connections at the polls during the recent primary election.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shaky
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.
Dictionary Entries Near shaky
Cite this Entry
“Shaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaky. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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