sneaking

[ snee-king ]

/ ˈsni kɪŋ /

acting in a furtive or underhand way.

deceitfully underhand, as actions; contemptible.

secret; not generally avowed, as a feeling, notion, suspicion, etc.

Origin of sneaking

First recorded in 1575–85; sneak + -ing²

sneak·ing·ly, adverb sneak·ing·ness, noun un·sneak·ing, adjective

But to say he couldn't was so sneakingly good that I don't believe it of him.

Phemie Frost's Experiences |Ann S. Stephens
And have you not lately aided privately and sneakingly my Rebel Subjects in Corsica?

Benjamin Franklin |Frank Luther Mott
There are two Robs in me; one is sneakingly cowardly, and wants only to curl up in a hole and hide; and the other says: 'S't, boy!

The Little Grey House |Marion Ames Taggart
Alfred interrupted her by sneakingly inquiring as to how she liked the sermon.

Watch Yourself Go By |Al. G. Field

Then he knew that to tell Locke he did not care to go to the island and later to go by himself would have been sneakingly selfish.

Isle o' Dreams |Frederick F. Moore

sneaking

/ (ˈsniːkɪŋ) /

acting in a furtive or cowardly way

secret a sneaking desire to marry a millionaire

slight but nagging (esp in the phrase a sneaking suspicion)

sneakingly, adverb sneakingness, noun