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
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
And the one thing the Oilers know is that Skinner has the ability to bounce back from shaky performances.
—
Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 26 May 2025
Celebrating success can reinforce morale, build confidence and remind people of what’s working, even when external circumstances feel shaky.
—Irma Becerra, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
As the sisters keep stepping on emotional land mines, director Nicole Kassell adopts a shakier handheld-camera style that underlines Meghann Fahy’s and Milly Alcock’s rawer performances.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Democratic Alliance, the Social Democrats’ governing coalition that was forced into a snap election two months ago, retained its shaky grasp on power with 89 out of 230 seats in the National Assembly.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
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Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 26 May 2025
Celebrating success can reinforce morale, build confidence and remind people of what’s working, even when external circumstances feel shaky.
—Irma Becerra, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
As the sisters keep stepping on emotional land mines, director Nicole Kassell adopts a shakier handheld-camera style that underlines Meghann Fahy’s and Milly Alcock’s rawer performances.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Democratic Alliance, the Social Democrats’ governing coalition that was forced into a snap election two months ago, retained its shaky grasp on power with 89 out of 230 seats in the National Assembly.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
Cite this Entry
“Shaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaky. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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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