cunning

1 of 2

adjective

cun·​ning ˈkə-niŋ How to pronounce cunning (audio)
1
: dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (such as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end
a cunning plotter
2
: characterized by wiliness and trickery
cunning schemes
3
: prettily appealing : cute
a cunning little kitten
4
: displaying keen insight
a cunning observation
cunningly adverb
cunningness noun

cunning

2 of 2

noun

1
: dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing)
high-ribbed vault … with perfect cunning framedWilliam Wordsworth
2
3
obsolete
b
: magic art
Choose the Right Synonym for cunning

Adjective

clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving.

clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude.

a person clever with horses

adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick 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

cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

Noun

art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised.

art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

Examples of cunning in a Sentence

Adjective … this cat has made his way into the Fitness Center for cunning reasons of his own and reveals himself only to certain privileged individuals. Joyce Carol Oates, Harper's, June 2008
Throughout his time hunting the vampire, Manolito had been wounded and poisoned on many occasions, but still he'd survived because he'd always used his brain. He was cunning and shrewd and very intelligent. Christine Feehan, Dark Possession, 2007
I have recounted the advice I received from an old-timer about how to keep raccoons out of garbage cans—advice that eventually included the purchase of a combination lock. ("A raccoon's cunning, but he's got no head for figures.") Calvin Trillin, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 1993
A cunning politician is often found skulking under the clerical robe, with an outside all religion, and an inside all political rancour. Washington Irving, A History of New York, 1809, in History, Tales and Sketches(1977) 1983
So the Leader went into his den and looked at his children—two very cunning little cubs, lying on the floor. Hugh Lofting, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, 1920
She was cunning enough to fool me. a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices Noun The writing is best in the play's later scenes, when More deploys his legal cunning to help him weasel out of a political trap set by the oleaginous Thomas Cromwell … John Lahr, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2008
Tsvetaeva was lacking, moreover, in any instinct for cunning or self-preservation, or even for what might be called mere getting along … Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 1994
He could see no change, save that in the eyes there was a look of cunning and in the mouth the curved wrinkle of the hypocrite. Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning. the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ HBO series Veep had a very basic, even facile, comedic thrust: Politicians are children — cunning, evil, profane, egomaniacal, ridiculous, brawling, horrible children (who happen to rule the world). Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 But there are two fatal flaws to this exceedingly cunning plan. Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 12 Feb. 2024 The banner denotes that this is, indeed, a house for the most cunning (and sneaky) minds, with plenty of accessories and parts to set the scene for mischievous events. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 20 Jan. 2024 Want to spend an afternoon up to your waist in a crisp, clear stream, fly-fishing for wild, cunning trout? Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Complete with corrupt prison officers and a cunning jail break, the story closely observes a friendship and the fears of inmates who are being held in the Shawshank State Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison. Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Jan. 2024 Police believed the perpetrators were the yakuza, who were irked by Itami’s portrayal of them as witless bullies outsmarted by a cunning attorney (played by Itami’s actress wife Nobuko Miyamoto, who starred in all of his films) in Minbo. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 Under the system, which assigns traits to each animal, some years are less popular, like that of the tiger (too fierce), the goat (too timid) or the snake (seen as manipulative and cunning). Lyric Li, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2024 The Chiefs might be more cunning than dominant this postseason, but the results are the same. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024
Noun
When a mystery dinner theater event goes well, audience members are confident their collective cunning led to the successful resolution of the case. Nate Bennett, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 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 In both shows, Perry played Mike Kresteva, the cunning, conniving and lying politician and lawyer who would do anything to succeed. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023 Such is the tactic by which Brooks and the other sovereigns of self-help, with considerable skill and a pinch of cunning, advance their cause. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023 But his emotions were leavened with zealous cunning. Sam Kiley, CNN, 14 Oct. 2023 Committing a hit may be mostly about counting down the minutes and hours, but Fincher builds the sequence with a veteran suspense filmmaker’s cunning. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2023 Shiv’s real cunning is at play at the memorial service when her smooth demeanor wins her crucial uninterrupted minutes with the presidential hopeful Mencken. Shelly Tan, Washington Post, 26 May 2023

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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from present participle of can know

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cunning was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cunning

Cite this Entry

“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cunning. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cunning

1 of 2 adjective
cun·​ning ˈkən-iŋ How to pronounce cunning (audio)
1
: very good or very clever at using special knowledge or skills or at getting something done
a cunning detective
2
: showing keen understanding
a cunning observation
3
: marked by deception and trickery
4
cunningly adverb
cunningness noun

cunning

2 of 2 noun
1
2
: cleverness in getting what one wants often by tricks or deceiving

More from Merriam-Webster on cunning

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