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Definition of fishy

fishy

/ˈfɪʃ.i/
fish · y
Adverb:fishily
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fishy Lexical Profile

fishy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Arousing feelings of doubt, distrust, or suspicion; questionable or dishonest.

Example

"The auditor noticed something fishy about the sudden spike in offshore transactions."

2

Resembling fish in smell, taste, or appearance, or abounding in fish.

Example

"A strong, fishy odor lingered in the kitchen long after dinner was served."

3

Dull, glassy, and expressionless, like the eyes of a dead fish.

Example

"The shopkeeper fixed the customer with a cold, fishy stare."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for fishy

• Nearby Words

fishspear
fishtail
fishworm
fishy
fission
fissure
fist

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 16th century from 'fish' plus the adjectival suffix '-y'. The figurative sense of 'suspicious' or 'dubious' emerged in the mid-19th century, likely referring to the unpleasant smell of spoiled fish.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fishy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fishy
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