1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
with well-practiced artfulness, he convinced his mother he was sick enough to stay home from school but not sick enough for a visit to the doctor's office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
building a ship model requires a painstaking artfulness I don't have
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of artfulness
There is a real seriousness to the score — the scheming bad-guy music has the artfulness of Prokofiev, and even the sneaking-around cues have musical integrity and structure.
—
Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artfulness
Noun
-
Luke Shaw’s technique and cunning at centre-back deserved to be better rewarded.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Others praised the pup's cunning.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Martin’s energy onstage always skyrockets and his performance skills are undiminished.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Alfons Freij is a mobile defenceman with enough puck skill to impress, but whose decision-making needs improvement before being considered an NHL player.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Maximalists can lean into bold, dramatic hues, while those who prefer subtlety can opt for earthy neutrals that blend seamlessly with their kitchen decor.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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With uncanny accuracy, latent space manipulation records vocal subtleties and micro-expressions.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ay, the superb slyness of that last response!—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artfulness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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