1
: dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (such as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end
a cunning plotter
Remember the story about a cunning fox and a foolish goat? The one where the fox talks the poor goat into leaping into a well, just to climb on its head and get out?—
Robert Krajewski
Robert Krajewski2
: characterized by wiliness and trickery
cunning schemes
… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by.—Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane3
: displaying keen insight
a cunning observation
4
: prettily appealing : cute
a cunning little kitten
cunningness
noun
1
: dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing)
To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning.—Naveen Kumar
Naveen KumarHer knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor.—Brian Jacques
Brian Jacques2
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
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
Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Norris portrays the cunning and relentless Chief Dennison, with Tripp as Liz Bradley, a border patrol agent with a true-north moral compass, in her first major film role.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
The story follows Toto, an almost completely blind cat with incredible ninja skills, who must use her courage and cunning to stop a deadly King Cobra that has escaped onto the streets of London, alongside her cheeky brother Silver.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
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Adjective
Your words can be sharp and cunning today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Norris portrays the cunning and relentless Chief Dennison, with Tripp as Liz Bradley, a border patrol agent with a true-north moral compass, in her first major film role.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
Coaching successfully in such conditions requires a mixture of humility and self-confidence, as well as a certain cunning.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
The story follows Toto, an almost completely blind cat with incredible ninja skills, who must use her courage and cunning to stop a deadly King Cobra that has escaped onto the streets of London, alongside her cheeky brother Silver.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cunning. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cunning
1 of 2 adjective
cun·ning
ˈkən-iŋ 
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
cunningness
noun
cunning
2 of 2 noun1
2
: cleverness in getting what one wants often by tricks or deceiving
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