1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inventive
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of artful
But the tender, artful balladry and sorcerous studio experimentation that cemented his legacy are totally sui generis for the genre, comprising an act of emotional and creative bravery so rare and beautiful in American culture that it has never been successfully imitated.
—
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
So sophisticated and delicate in its moon-eyed teenage passions, full of artful melodic moves bolstered by the pure-water harmonies that would define the group.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
The line between artful homage and mimicry is, of course, quite thin.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller Ginny is an artful soul who has internalized the chaos of her upbringing as the child of a loving, but lawless mother.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
So sophisticated and delicate in its moon-eyed teenage passions, full of artful melodic moves bolstered by the pure-water harmonies that would define the group.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
The line between artful homage and mimicry is, of course, quite thin.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Antonia Gentry as Ginny Miller Ginny is an artful soul who has internalized the chaos of her upbringing as the child of a loving, but lawless mother.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful
Adjective
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With wit and cunning, the protagonists navigate the ever-present systems of oppression that encircle them and their relationships.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
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President Trump does not exhibit Bismarck’s cunning, inscrutability, or proclivity for complicated diplomacy.—
Charles C. W. Cooke,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The film is a marvel, with a cornucopia of inventive gags and a story that captures the heartbreak and hilarity of growing up.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 June 2025
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Midtown newcomers Majka and Kin Thai were added to the guide earlier this spring for their inventive menus and strong community roots.—
Keyla Vasconcellos,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Amazon is stocked with tons of cute coin purses that capture the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese street style.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2025
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Sourced from our favorite spots like J.Crew, Gap, Nordstrom Rack, and Amazon, these linen pieces are high quality and cute.—
Jeaneen Russell,
People.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Even the cleverest plans leave room for a little improvisation.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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Part of the demand is perhaps driven by a clever sales tactic.—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Finnegans Wake, in his skillful hands, is a tapestry of all the works Joyce ever wrote, the final and protracted project of a writer who could never stop thinking about Ireland.—
Eric Bulson,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2025
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Their smart, aggressive defense disorients even the smoothest spacing and the most skillful shooters.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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The boxy shape and subtle back snaps add airflow and style, and the whole outfit can be rinsed in a hotel sink and re-worn with no stress.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2025
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The new species was identified by its DNA, size, body proportions, texture, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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If tokenized equity direct listings are allowed, this wouldn’t be the first time the SEC helped an innovative new product get off the ground.—
Christopher Perkins,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Excellent cuisine, including innovative bites at the pop-up Morimoto by Sea, a venue operated in partnership with chef Masaharu Morimoto.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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This particular weather issue did not deter Hermés' artistic director Veronique Nichanian from proposing extremely lightweight and smooth like butter leather dressing for the upcoming season, perhaps the ultimate luxury to wear lambskins, while fabrics like linen seem obvious.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The production will be directed by The Old Vic’s artistic director Matthew Warchus (Groundhog Day, Pride) in his final season before stopping down in September 2026.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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