fishy

adjective

ˈfi-shē 

fishier; fishiest

1

: of or resembling fish especially in taste or odor

2

: creating doubt or suspicion : questionable

Synonyms

• debatable
• disputable
• dodgy [chiefly British]
• doubtable
• doubtful
• dubious
• dubitable
• equivocal
• problematic
• problematical
• queer
• questionable
• shady
• shaky
• suspect
• suspicious

Examples of fishy in a Sentence

There's something fishy about that guy.

something's fishy about the way he's acting

Recent Examples on the Web

However, some cybersecurity experts think the hackers’ intentions are fishy. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2024

Although today’s furry house rulers can enjoy fishy feasts while staying high and dry, since time immemorial, wild cats have apparently been willing to get their paws wet to snag some tasty treats. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2024

My taste buds will get blasted, leaving behind a palate that toggles between metallic and fishy. —David Gilbert, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2024

There's nothing fishy about this unique preparation. —Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 30 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fishy

adjective

ˈfish-ē 

fishier; fishiest

1

: of, relating to, or resembling fish

a fishy odor

2

: arousing doubt or suspicion : questionable

the story sounds fishy to me