1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
Deploying a top-notch slutty house-meets-electro record is one of the canniest moves he’s ever made.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Byron’s a canny, bold, and incisive critic.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Yet in the three episodes HBO provided for review—episodes whose technical elements can be stunning and manipulation of genre conventions canny—Levinson does nothing to deepen his antihero’s search for meaning.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
But that spontaneity is balanced out with canny studio manipulation by producer Scotty Hard, who juxtaposes grooves and riffs and knits songs together, finding through lines and punctuating disjunctions.
—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Byron’s a canny, bold, and incisive critic.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Yet in the three episodes HBO provided for review—episodes whose technical elements can be stunning and manipulation of genre conventions canny—Levinson does nothing to deepen his antihero’s search for meaning.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
But that spontaneity is balanced out with canny studio manipulation by producer Scotty Hard, who juxtaposes grooves and riffs and knits songs together, finding through lines and punctuating disjunctions.
—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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Share a smart idea with a neighbor, then turn it into a clear message while your mind stays agile.
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The Knicks could, hypothetically, trade a starter to create space beneath the second apron to re-sign Robinson, but breaking up a starting five that just won a title is not a smart idea.
Adjective
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Olivia Taylor, the assistant manager of the swim school, says clearing up misconceptions about what drowning actually looks like and getting anyone comfortable in and around the water, are some of the most important parts of teaching someone how to swim.
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Opt for these wireless ones with a 50-hour battery life, comfortable padding, and more handy features.
Adjective
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However, astute investors can identify when fear has pushed expectations below a reasonable future outlook.
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They were refined and astute thinkers.
Adjective
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The relaxed fit offers plenty of comfort while the print keeps things visually interesting.
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Her hosting playbook still sets the tone, even as a new generation reshapes it for a more relaxed era.
Adjective
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Mary — played by Deirdre O’Connell, who has been in a million things, most recently The Penguin and Eddington — is too shrewd to just agree to sell the air rights for whatever price best suits Jimmy & Co.
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But even here, Wilde’s stylistic choices can veer from shrewd to overly studied.
Adjective
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Most savvy shoppers these days are hardly put off by where an item sits in the store, and Chavarria says his menswear is often bought by women.
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Some of the savviest travelers are spending next weekend on the sidelines, enjoying a staycation while everyone else goes somewhere.
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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