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Synonym Chooser

How is the word cunning distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of cunning are artful, crafty, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

In what contexts can artful take the place of cunning?

While in some cases nearly identical to cunning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

Where would crafty be a reasonable alternative to cunning?

The synonyms crafty and cunning are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of cunning?

The words foxy and cunning can be used in similar contexts, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When could slick be used to replace cunning?

In some situations, the words slick and cunning are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When would sly be a good substitute for cunning?

Although the words sly and cunning have much in common, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When might tricky be a better fit than cunning?

While the synonyms tricky and cunning are close in meaning, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can wily be used instead of cunning?

The meanings of wily and cunning largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cunning
Adjective
The episode also introduced Andy Garcia as Galino, a powerful and cunning cartel boss. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025 Black Friday had become a competitive event requiring planning and cunning to get the good deals first. Mary Meehan, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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 Known for his slow, methodical in-ring style and chilling promos, Roberts played a brilliant heel, often manipulating opponents with his cunning. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cunning 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
  • Jang Theo was incredibly head over heels for her and showered her with gifts and cute gestures.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The dish is shaped like the iconic chocolate candy, complete with a sizeable bowl and matching lid that is both functional and super cute.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But after adding three inexpensive yet highly skilled perimeter players — Vandersloot for facilitation, Allen and Nurse for high-volume 3-point shooting — the Sky are now more likely to retain the No. 3 and No. 10 picks to dig into the second phase of building through the draft.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
  • All these defense strategies will require adequate funding, with the needs likely to increase as cyber criminals become ever more skilled.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Each new hunt throws a curveball to keep things challenging while teaching you basic controls and combat skills.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025
  • During a short but very memorable run on The Traitors season 3, Bob the Drag Queen unexpectedly opened the library to read Zac Efron's acting skills, and now the RuPaul's Drag Race star is opening the film archive to explain why.
    Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The series was loosely inspired by the non-fiction book The Woman Who Fooled the World, written by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, the two journalists who uncovered the details of Gibson’s deception.
    Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
  • Some users saw deception as the biggest issue, while others questioned whether the wife's stance was fair, given the monetary opportunity.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Silicon Valley Workers Quietly Protest: As Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans have embraced President Trump and muffled internal dissent at their companies, their mostly left-leaning employees have objected with subtle acts of defiance.
    Mike Isaac, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025
  • An arm at the bottom of the print is a subtle reference to the skeletal arm in Munch’s 1895 Self-Portrait—a connection that the couple emphasized by hanging the two prints near each other in their home.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Chinese companies have proved to be skillful inventors, capable of competing with the world’s best, including Apple and Tesla.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
  • There is also notable, skillful choreography from Niko Montelibano in the up-tempo songs that call for it.
    Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • His characteristics are based on short, neat passes, providing guile to unpick deep-sitting blocks and work in tight areas.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The former Watford midfielder brings energy to the press but lacks guile, and with his contract up at the end of the season, the 32-year-old looks like a stop-gap.
    Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Yet the findings of science challenged this way of thinking, and Kingsley grew increasingly uneasy with the deceit and parasitism science uncovered in the natural world.
    Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025
  • These, puppet masters could win an Emmy Award through deceit and coercion to further their own goals at the expense of others.
    Jason Walker, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near cunning

Cite this Entry

“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

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