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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sly distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sly are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would artful be a reasonable alternative to sly?

The words artful and sly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When could crafty be used to replace sly?

While in some cases nearly identical to sly, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

In what contexts can cunning take the place of sly?

While the synonyms cunning and sly are close in meaning, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of sly?

The synonyms foxy and sly are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than sly?

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

slick operators selling time-sharing

When might tricky be a better fit than sly?

Although the words tricky and sly have much in common, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for sly?

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

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Examples 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 sly Dressed in a traditional-looking headpiece at what appears to be an after-hours bonfire celebration, the star makes smoldering eye contact with someone offscreen while giving a sly smile. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024 Many performances are career peaks: Thompson is luminous; Branagh plays Benedick with exquisite finesse, a sly operator who secretly wants to get caught. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024 James, by Percival Everett, is a sly retelling of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner, reworks the spy thriller for a louche protagonist embedded within a community of French activists. Emma Alpern, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024 Under showrunner Rolin Jones, the adaptation of Anne Rice’s novels is richly written, thrillingly inhabited by its cast and so effortlessly funny with a framing device — the interview of the title — that is thick with intrigue and sly comedy. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sly 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly
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
Adjective
  • Doe is strictly instructed by Muna not to answer her phone, while arrangements to meet a stranger on the other side to continue their journey sound shady enough even before the man fails to show up.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
  • To accomplish these goals, Peter had to bend his principles, including lying to Noor, an idealistic young staffer at the Iranian UN mission, about the fate of her brother and allying with a shady businessman, Jacob Monroe.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Travelers in search of mischievous chimps will soon be able to stay at River Station, an eco-chic camp built by Wildplaces Africa near Kyambura, while Great Lakes Safaris is constructing Padibi Lodge on the site of a former Jane Goodall research center in Budongo.
    Alexandra Owens, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The video, which went viral on TikTok, shows Brandon cheekily explaining his mischievous plan.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Guests have free access to the hotel’s cute alpine style spa with sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The pair were photographed ice skating during a cute nighttime outing.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Breast cancer entered my life in a very sneaky way.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Now, a team at Nagoya University in Japan has figured out two of the primary ways that these sneaky crickets manage to survive in such a hostile environment.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • His wicked knuckle-curve pairs with a 96-mph fastball.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • His wicked point shot is just what Coach Carbs needs for his system of double screens of the goalie.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • These subtle forms of communication—often overshadowed by verbal expression—strengthen emotional connections, offer comfort and convey understanding in ways words cannot.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2025
  • For those who don’t mesh with the plum tones of Black Honey can shop Clinique Pink Honey instead, which offers the same sheer wash of color in an even more subtle pink tone.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • That weekend, at the grocery store, Eliza hovered near the cosmetics wall and, almost without looking, tossed in mascara, concealer, lip gloss, and sped to the checkout, feeling furtive.
    Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
  • There’s always been something eerie about Seefeel’s music, in which dub and ambient flit like furtive ghosts.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near sly

Cite this Entry

“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sly. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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