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
Seattle appeared to be a bit shaky coming out of the gate, but Week 2 proved the team has a strong core that can take them far.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In Minnesota, the Yankees experienced some shaky moments from the bullpen.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The bigger picture is that travel demand has defied shaky economic data and is shaping up to be more of a secular bull market than the cyclical story many assumed.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Looking at the Fed’s mandate, inflation is warm but not too hot, and the employment side of the Fed’s responsibility is looking shaky.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
In Minnesota, the Yankees experienced some shaky moments from the bullpen.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The bigger picture is that travel demand has defied shaky economic data and is shaping up to be more of a secular bull market than the cyclical story many assumed.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Looking at the Fed’s mandate, inflation is warm but not too hot, and the employment side of the Fed’s responsibility is looking shaky.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share