What does weaselly mean?
Weaselly describes conduct that is crafty, sneaky, or cunning, particularly when it appears designed to avoid truth, responsibility, or a fair challenge. The word commonly characterizes behavior, tactics, excuses, and responses: a “weaselly answer,” for example, may evade a direct question while appearing to provide an explanation. Although it can technically describe a person, it is more often used for actions that seem underhanded or untrustworthy. The expression carries a strong negative connotation and is more common in informal, journalistic, and critical speech than in formal technical writing. Its force comes partly from the weasel's long-standing reputation as a elusive, furtive animal. The adjective is therefore especially useful when describing someone whose conduct seems plausible on the surface but appears designed to deceive or evade accountability.
adjectiveWeaselly means crafty, cunning, or sneaky, especially in a way that suggests deception or an unwillingness to act openly. It is often used to describe dishonest behavior, tactics, or excuses.
- Crafty, cunning, or sneaky, especially in a way suggesting deception, evasiveness, or distrustworthiness.
"The politician's weaselly response avoided the central issue entirely."
"His weaselly answer shifted the blame without explaining what had happened."
"The company dismissed the allegations as an attempt to damage its reputation through weaselly accusations."
Weaselly turns the weasel's traditional reputation for slyness into a sharp, instantly intelligible label for human conduct.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of weaselly
“Weaselly” was formed in English by adding the suffix -y to “weasel,” a word inherited from Old English and ultimately from a Germanic source shared with forms such as Dutch wezel and German Wiesel. The development of the adjective reflects the traditional view of the weasel as sly, furtive, and difficult to pin down. The related forms “weaseling” and “weaselling” likewise use “weasel” metaphorically for devious conduct.
How weaselly is actually used
The term is informal and generally disparaging. It is especially common with words such as “behavior,” “tactics,” and “excuses,” and implies that someone's actions are not honest or straightforward.
Easily confused with weaselly
Weaselly describes crafty or sneaky conduct, whereas wheezy describes noisy or difficult breathing.