canny

adjective

can·ny | \ ˈka-nē

cannier; canniest

Definition of canny

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : clever, shrewd a canny lawyer also : prudent canny investments

2 chiefly Scotland

a : careful, steady also : restrained

b : quiet, snug then canny, in some cozy place, they close the day— Robert Burns

canny

adverb

Definition of canny (Entry 2 of 2)

Scotland

: in a canny manner : carefully

Other Words from canny Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about canny

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Examples of canny in a Sentence

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

Saslaw, a canny veteran of Capitol politics who is ardently pro-business and chummy with Republicans, hasn't faced a primary challenger in 40 years. — CBS News, "Virginia holds primary election as political watchers look for 2020 trends," 11 June 2019 Vo is too canny and too much of an aesthete for that. — David Salle, The New York Review of Books, "David Salle," 9 May 2019 But some canny creatures seem to have come back from the beyond. — Caitlin Etherton, National Geographic, "See 8 animal species that came back from the dead," 1 Mar. 2019 Now, these partnerships are first and foremost a canny business move. — Glamour, "At Long Last, Fashion Is Making Cool Merch for Fandoms," 19 Apr. 2019 Beyond that, the acquisition now looks particularly canny for one big reason: the Saks building on Fifth Avenue. — Joshua Levine, WSJ, "Saks Doubles Down on Department Stores With New Restaurant in New York City," 15 Jan. 2019 So too with Alexander’s own actions and decisions, some wise and canny, others reckless and cruel. — James Romm, WSJ, "‘Soldier, Priest, and God’ Review: The Emperor Divine," 13 Dec. 2018 But Haley’s policy approach was particularly canny. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "How Nikki Haley played the White House game — and won," 9 Oct. 2018 Cheeky, importunate and canny, Ms. Jordan’s voice is one of the great standard-bearing instruments of midcentury jazz. — New York Times, "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'canny.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.