canniness

noun

Definition of canninessnext
1
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters negotiates business deals with all of the proverbial canniness of an old-time horse trader

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the canniness with which she negotiated her contract as spokesperson for the shoe manufacturer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canniness
  1. intelligence
  2. cunning
  3. wit
  4. subtlety
  5. acumen
Noun
  • Pieter Arntz, malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes is advising users to upgrade their software now.
    Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • In 2021, the Justice Department charged three North Korean computer programmers, members of the country's military intelligence agency, in connection with a series of global cyberattacks allegedly conducted on behalf of the regime.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • David slayed the giant with a slingshot; Esther by her cunning saved her people.
    Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Over time, guile took on the connotation of deceitful cunning in English, emerging in Middle English around the 12th century.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • Their remarkable wit, talent, and dynamic presence perfectly complement what promises to be an extraordinary series of evenings celebrating our community.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Dangerous, and often unscripted moments, like the ones described above have happened to a number of motorists across the country in 2024, leaving many to rely on their sheer wit and determination to survive.
    Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of wit
Noun
  • Since an excess of subtlety might have led to the general underappreciation of something like Reservation Dogs, sometimes a little guiding hand-holding isn’t a bad thing.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Her low-intervention winemaking practices reflect this belief, with a focus on subtlety and nuance that draw the consumer into the layers of the wine.
    Rachel King, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.
    Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com, al, 20 Jan. 2023
  • But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
    Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Definition of acumen
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near canniness

cannily

canniness

canning

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Cite this Entry

“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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