guileful

adjective

Definition of guilefulnext
1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means tried to fix the game with a guileful plot to sabotage the other team's bats, but the umpire caught them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception received a guileful answer when I asked the dealer if the used car had ever been in a collision

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guileful
  1. cunning
  2. deceptive
  3. cute
  4. fraudulent
  5. subtle
  6. shady
  7. crooked
  8. dishonest
Adjective
  • Dawson plays Maritza Cruz, a high-end celebrity attorney, pulled into a headline-making case involving Fatima, a cunning young waitress who is accused of serial poisoning and murdering 28 people.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Since then, Putin has sought instead to rally the public to the defense of a motherland besieged by the perfidious and cunning West.
    Leon Aron, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Lilly has sent cease-and-desist letters to numerous compounding sellers, and both companies have filed lawsuits against numerous compounding pharmacies, alleging trademark infringement and deceptive marketing.
    Bob Woods, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Yes, but: Brandi Tuck, executive director of the nonprofit Path Home, has been working with homeless families for nearly two decades and says those numbers are likely deceptive undercounts.
    Kale Williams, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • For a cute accent table or seating option, the KYRRE electric blue stool is a must have.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
  • In late November, Munn posted a cute tribute on Instagram to celebrate her son's third birthday.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • In response to this glut of fraudulent activity, social media companies and web operators have employed human monitors and machine technology to identify and shut down online scammers.
    Bob Woods, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024
  • The investigation uncovered an identity theft conspiracy using a deceased person’s Social Security number that was used to make fraudulent Social Security cards, state driver’s licenses, and lawful permanent resident cards.
    Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • The palate has a mix of caramel, cinnamon sugar, and subtle spice, which offers a rich, layered experience.
    Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 14 Dec. 2024
  • The Cognac is complex, featuring plum, fig, and licorice notes, a rich, spicy finish, and subtle vanilla undertones.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • When temperatures start to warm in spring, begin to harden off the plant by placing it in a shady spot during the daytime.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Ji Chang-wook, who plays a shady broker, is bloodied and battered from the beginning of the series to the end.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • The pardon was a political bombshell that Republicans have used to further President-elect Donald Trump's claims that the Justice Department has been weaponized against him and that the Biden family has been crooked for years.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Caravans of cars traveled from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio to clinics here, loading up on pills and prescriptions from crooked doctors selling their prescription pads to anyone with so much as a hangnail.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • Just as Theranos’ success was built on lies and ultimately collapsed under its own weight, companies and individuals that rise by dishonest means are playing a short-term game.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Biden admin called out for longstanding lie about pardoning Hunter: 'Most dishonest admin in history'.
    Fox News, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of dishonest
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 guileful

guile

guileful

guilefulness

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Cite this Entry

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

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Britannica English: Translation of guileful for Arabic Speakers

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