CUNNING Synonyms: 317 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

cunning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkə-niŋ

Definition of cunning next

as in cute

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in skilled

skillful with the hands only the most cunning cabinetmaker could have crafted such a beautifully proportioned chest of drawers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cunning

2 of 2

noun

as in slyness

skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in skill

subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something the unmatched cunning of the scout who led them safely through the trackless wilderness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery used cunning and subterfuge to lure unwitting victims into the fraudulent scheme

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples of cunning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

From the network that brought us Miss Mystic Falls, The CW on Thursday presented the 2024 Miss Teen USA Pageant, a similar contest of poise, cunning and (presumably) compulsion. —

Andy Swift, TVLine, 1 Aug. 2024 Daemon is one of the most clever, cunning and conniving characters in House of the Dragon, who always seems to have the upper hand. —

Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 28 July 2024

Noun

Cruz bites into the role with a visceral ferocity — her grief, her cunning, her intelligence, her jealousy, and her desire hurdling out of her with the volume turned all the way up. —

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 Napoleon’s bravado and military cunning are juxtaposed with personal quirks seen in his marital competition with Empress Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). —

Armond White, National Review, 24 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for cunning

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cunning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.