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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of artful
Guests can enjoy artful American cuisine at Willowsong, sip cocktails and sample fresh seafood at The Watering Hole or head up to Waves, the rooftop deck and infinity pool bar, for light bites.
—
Taryn White, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The 1971 film adaptation from director Stanley Kubrick is also an artful interpretation of Burgess' nightmare world.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The films showcased at the Florida Film Festival are an excellent example of how artful and heartfelt stories can be made on a shoestring budget.
—David Morton, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
With its dizzying long takes and frantic pacing, The Studio quickly set itself apart as not just a mere riff on The Player but a slick and artful send-up — a continuation and expansion of Robert Altman’s ’90s industry satire.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Taryn White, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The 1971 film adaptation from director Stanley Kubrick is also an artful interpretation of Burgess' nightmare world.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
The films showcased at the Florida Film Festival are an excellent example of how artful and heartfelt stories can be made on a shoestring budget.
—David Morton, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
With its dizzying long takes and frantic pacing, The Studio quickly set itself apart as not just a mere riff on The Player but a slick and artful send-up — a continuation and expansion of Robert Altman’s ’90s industry satire.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful
Adjective
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Köhler specializes in cunning, tonally surprising films about cross-cultural disconnection, and Gavagai is his most ambitious and expansive film yet—a pinpoint-accurate account of moral crises and social biases, modern and ancient, internal and external.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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But as the supervisors tweaked the incentives, a new form of cunning arose.—
Craig S. Smith,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Entrées are just as innovative and might swing from lamb belly to halibut with sausage made of Royal Red shrimp, and inventive desserts like movie-popcorn-butter ice cream.—
Mike Jordan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
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Numan’s career was a tumultuous one, defined in turns by inventive highs and long periods outside of the public eye.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The trailers for the episode dropped not only the announcement of Swift's latest album, but also a cute moment between the celeb couple.—
Joyce Orlando,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Aug. 2025
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The brand also offers the pillow in a smaller base model and several cute kids’ pillows that double as plushies.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Later, of course, movies based on the series starring Tom Cruise became blockbusters, but were never as clever as the original television series, relying more on outlandish stunts and special effects.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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These clever yet bizarre gadgets are both fun and oddly useful.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The story follows Winston Smith, a skillful worker rewriting history in the Ministry of Truth, who starts to look back fondly on the days before the Party took over the region of Oceania and implemented their cult of personality devoid of free thought and individuality.—
Robert English,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
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But the game's structure also allows skillful and/or impatient players to zip to the game's conclusion quite quickly, rushing through the visually inventive bosses that guard the game's major chokepoints.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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There's a subtle but powerful form of manipulation happening in AI companions.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The spawn, which typically takes place over a few days and lasts less than 20 minutes, is triggered by subtle environmental cues — moon phase, tides and water temperatures — that healthy reefs once responded to in consistent synchronization.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Taste delicious wines, hunt for truffles, and visit innovative restaurants on this journey through a relatively compact area.—
Tia Lovisa Moreira,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Aug. 2025
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The program will also promote STEM-medicine integration, cost-effective education, and innovative academic partnerships.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Small towns often have some of the best coffee shops, and this one has a fun and artistic twist.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
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Known for his thoughtful aesthetic rooted in stealth luxury, Hamilton has managed to create an atmosphere that is at once opulent and inviting, with subtle nods to Scotland’s industrial and artistic heritage woven throughout.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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