Adjective
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
World & Nation Chinese President Xi’s trip to Europe: ‘Charm offensive’ or canny bid to divide the West?—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 His wife, Emily, encouraged his obsession and became his canny collaborator.—Andrea Mays, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024 When, after the post-war years of austerity and misery, the country established itself once again in the 1960s as a world power to be reckoned with, thanks to the dual strengths of the canny Prime Minister Harold Wilson and the telegenic young Queen.—Alexander Larman, TIME, 5 May 2024 Pop culture is most fascinating as a mirror reflecting us and the people who make it, and Ripley has provided unnervingly canny reflections.—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for canny
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
originally Scots & regional northern English, going back to early Scots, "free from risk, sagacious, prudent, cautious," probably from can "ability" (noun derivative of cancan entry 1) + -y-y entry 1
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