cunning

adjective cun·ning \ ˈkə-niŋ \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of cunning

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

play \ˈkə-niŋ-lē\ adverb

—

cunningness

noun

See cunning defined for English-language learners

See cunning defined for kids

Examples of cunning in a Sentence

… 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

Recent Examples of cunning from the Web

Through his policy and rhetoric, Mr. Putin has spread the notion that the U.S. is a cunning enemy trying to undermine Russia and is responsible for Russia’s every problem at home and abroad.

— mikhail khodorkovsky, WSJ, "How to Stop Vladimir Putin’s Mafia," 22 Apr. 2018
Former saloon girl and brothel madam Maeve (Thandie Newton), who broke out of her narrative loop in season one and reprogrammed herself to be far more cunning than those who created her, is still bent on escaping Westworld.

— lorraine ali, latimes.com, "Fun and head games, terror and bloody revolt in ‘Westworld’s’ smart, action-packed season two," 20 Apr. 2018
Few combinations rival it for sheer cunning, visual impact and pure deliciousness.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "Wild Mango to open 2nd location, in Legacy Village," 17 Apr. 2018
Her rooms demonstrated a cunning wit and a winning whimsy.

— michael ward, Curbed, "‘Trading Spaces’ and finding an unlikely queer icon in Hildi Santo-Tomas," 5 Apr. 2018
Some argue that Kushner cozying up to MBS was part of a cunning plan to cut a Middle East peace deal by getting the Saudis to bring the Palestinians to the table.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Why the Saudi Crown Prince Might Think He Has Jared Kushner ‘In His Pocket’," 22 Mar. 2018
Facebook games have started doing this as well, and in a much more cunning way.

— james hetherington, Newsweek, "Facebook Data: How to Protect Your Private Information," 21 Mar. 2018
Putin has dominated Russian politics for 18 years and his act will be a tough one to follow for the country's next leader, no matter how capable or cunning.

— nathan hodge, CNN, "Will Vladimir Putin ever release his grip on Russia?," 18 Mar. 2018
In other words, the type of policy coup Nixon and Kissinger pulled off required great cunning and knowledge of the inner workings of the American government.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "The Bittersweetness of a Rogue President," 12 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of cunning

Middle English, from present participle of can know

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

cunning Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of cunning

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

cunning

noun

Definition of cunning

1 : dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing)

high-ribbed vault … with perfect cunning framed
—William Wordsworth

2 : craft, slyness

3 obsolete

a : knowledge, learning

b : magic art

See cunning defined for English-language learners

Examples of cunning in a Sentence

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 of cunning from the Web

What there is there is some very strange things that Ari mentioned but also, Trump has a cunning or pressing suspicion that McCabe is not trustworthy.

— Fox News, "Ingraham: How to defeat the swamp's efforts to take down Trump's nominees," 19 Apr. 2018
Younger ones began their professional lives during the 1990s, when Alan Greenspan and his peers manipulated their economies with a deft rate hike here, a cunning cut there.

— The Economist, "Free exchangeCan’t hardly wait," 22 Mar. 2018
Confusing Trump’s behavior with mental illness unfairly stigmatizes those who are truly mentally ill, underestimates his considerable cunning, and misdirects our efforts at future harm reduction.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: Mental-health professionals can't agree on evaluating Trump's psyche," 12 Jan. 2018
Cruel and cunning, Domitian trashed the republic's institutions and undermined its laws.

— chicagotribune.com, "Mattis is an ancient Roman action hero," 29 Mar. 2018
The alternative was capitalism, which Soviet propaganda had portrayed as a cut-throat and cynical system in which cunning and ruthlessness mattered more than integrity or rules, and where money was the only measure of success.

— The Economist, "A new generation is rising in Russia," 22 Mar. 2018
This collection of pale-faced swashbucklers moves toward the opposing ship with all the cunning of a hungry zombie.

— charlie theel, Ars Technica, "Rum and Bones: Second Tide," 17 Mar. 2018
The immigration free-for-all that starts in Congress this week will test the character of [Paul Ryan], the courage of Republican moderates, the cunning of [Trump] and the sensibilities of the Democratic left.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Freewheeling immigration debate in Senate will test power of conservative outside groups," 12 Feb. 2018
Ultimately she was fired from the show but never lost her cunning, conniving and treacherously deceitful ways.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Omarosa to Join Celebrity Big Brother Because What Else Was She Going to Do?," 29 Jan. 2018