shaky

adjective

ˈshā-kē 

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

ˈshā-kə-lē 

adverb

shakiness

ˈshā-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• aquiver
• atremble
• quaking
• quavery
• quivering
• shaking
• shuddering
• shuddery
• tottering
• tottery
• trembling
• trembly
• tremulous
• wobbling
• wabbling
• wobbly
• wabbly

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

But its government, a shaky coalition of leftists and center-right liberals, has, unlike Bulgaria’s, managed to stagger on for four years. —Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 8 May 2024

But there are four very shaky keys: Third-party: Now, to win the third-party key, the third-party candidate has to get at least 5% of the popular vote. —Elizabeth Beyer, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shaky

• on shaky ground
• rests on shaky ground

Kids Definition

shaky

adjective

ˈshā-kē 

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

-kə-lē 

adverb

shakiness

-kē-nəs 

noun