Sneakiness is the quality of acting in a sly, secretive way to avoid being noticed or to get away with something. A sneaky person moves quietly, hides their true intentions, or does things behind others' backs.

Sneakiness shows up in many situations. A cat displays sneakiness when it silently stalks a toy mouse, creeping low to the ground. A student acts sneaky when they try to pass notes during class without the teacher seeing. Someone might use sneakiness to sneak extra cookies from the jar when no one's looking.

The word usually carries a negative feeling because sneaky behavior involves deception or breaking trust. When your brother sneaks into your room to borrow something without asking, that sneakiness feels like a betrayal. But sometimes sneakiness can be harmless or even fun, like when you're planning a surprise birthday party and need to keep it secret.

The key element of sneakiness is trying not to get caught. Whether you're sneaking past a sleeping dog, sneaking a peek at a wrapped present, or slipping vegetables you don't like under the table, you're hoping no one notices what you're up to. Sneakiness requires careful attention, quiet movements, and awareness of when others are watching.