cunningness

noun

Definition of cunningnessnext
1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means it took a certain amount of cunningness on the photographer's part to obtain such revealing portraits of his rich and famous subjects

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery people should remember that it was cunningness and not kindness that made him a very wealthy lawyer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunningness
  1. cunning
  2. deception
  3. deceit
  4. fraud
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
  • In firing off nuclear threats, Putin is burnishing his role as a master of deception.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • This is a game of deception after all, and everyone is in on it.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of deception
Noun
  • In the forthcoming season, fans of the nail-biting series can anticipate Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause, Britney Spears’ ex Sam Asghari, and Zac Efron’s younger brother Dylan to compete in a game of skill and deceit.
    Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government is trying to urge the nation to continue the struggle, even as its officials at all levels engage in corruption and deceit.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of deceit
Noun
  • Trump’s lawsuit, which was filed in Iowa state court in Polk County, accuses the outlet and pollster of violating Iowa’s consumer fraud laws by engaging in deception.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Softbank also blew a billion dollars on Wirecard, the German payments company at the center of an international fraud investigation, shortly before the firm unraveled.
    David Goldman, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of fraud
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 cunningness

cunningly

cunningness

cup

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Cite this Entry

“Cunningness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunningness. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

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