1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
tried to fix the game with a guileful plot to sabotage the other team's bats, but the umpire caught them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
received a guileful answer when I asked the dealer if the used car had ever been in a collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guileful
Adjective
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However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss… because Emily has a big secret.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025 -
However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss…because Emily has a big secret.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, a group of states led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton separately sued Google for anticompetitive and deceptive practices in its ad business.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Katie’s denial was once again found to be deceptive.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Start with something easy, like a fridge magnet, tiny illustration, or cute DIY bookmark.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Sep. 2025
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In the song, JJ and his friends dress up in doctor, pirate, and more cute costumes.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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An investigation revealed the suspect was driving without a license and had affixed a fraudulent registration tab to the rear license plate.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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The fraudulent sellers uncovered by CNBC took credentials from a wide range of companies.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Paige Tortorelli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The subtle side snap buttons leading down to the slit provide detail without being distracting, and the pointelle knit offers enough stretch and texture to hug your curves in all the right places.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
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Chisholm took a subtle shot at the Marlins, noting what was holding him back.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But what is Canada, if not a shady land deal?—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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The retreat is made up of 60 villas—some with their own pools—found along winding lanes, made shady with towering palm trees and scented frangipani.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The family had no money for doctors, and the arm healed crooked, forever limiting his reach and range of motion.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Both are as crooked as snakes in a hurry.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These are cheap, dishonest shots against a great intellect, acknowledged by friends and opponents alike.—
James Gaylord,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
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Industry groups insist that they are committed to weeding out dishonest companies that make false claims or sell dangerous products.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
26 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Guileful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guileful. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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