variants
also cagy
1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cagey
Undoubtedly the biggest star on LIV, and among the top handful of players in the world in both talent and fan interest, DeChambeau has been somewhat cagey as to his next move.
—
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Further, the non-call and subsequent call in the final 5 minutes of the free 30 minutes were monumental in a mostly cagey match.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Unseld was cagey about the playing-time restrictions for all three players, declining to share details about any of their medical limits during his pregame news conference.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
While department officials initially were cagey about whether pepper spray would be allowed at the new Kilpatrick, the department ultimately determined officers would not carry it.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Further, the non-call and subsequent call in the final 5 minutes of the free 30 minutes were monumental in a mostly cagey match.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Unseld was cagey about the playing-time restrictions for all three players, declining to share details about any of their medical limits during his pregame news conference.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
While department officials initially were cagey about whether pepper spray would be allowed at the new Kilpatrick, the department ultimately determined officers would not carry it.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cagey
Adjective
-
Seehorn’s indelible portrayal of the cunning Kim Wexler transformed the character from one-off love interest to irreplaceable mainstay, and thus, a partnership was born.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
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But statistics fail to convey the humanity of yard sales—the caprice, whimsy, and high spirits, as well as the cunning, weirdness, and heartbreak, that charge and thicken the air when two people agree to perform an off-the-books monetary transaction.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Groundwater districts, while long reluctant to engage in conservation planning, do have statutory authority to do so.—
Allen Best,
Denver Post,
14 June 2026
-
Vandalism, assaults and robberies downtown have driven businesses out, and a noticeable lack of police presence makes people reluctant to return.—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone loves the idea of packing cute sandals for a summer Europe trip, until they’re covered in blisters halfway through the day and begging to call a taxi.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
-
So, naturally, PEOPLE reached out to get all the details about their new pals, along with some exclusive, shamelessly cute photos of them all.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
His early, anonymous SoundCloud drops were hushed and hesitant, a shroud of tape hiss and white noise between himself and true self-examination.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
-
Under normal circumstances, Blackburn is hesitant to give himself away.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Anti-slip textures improved grip on slick surfaces, while integrated crampons provided extra traction on hard ice.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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He was soon joined by South African singer Tyla for her slick verse.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The perpetual buzz of mining bees mingled with the shuffle of rabbits through the bushes, woodpeckers’ rapid-fire drilling, and the hard-staccato tchack, tchack, tchack of ravenlike birds known as jackdaws, creating a subtle symphony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Look for alcohol-free, subtle formulas the goal is a whisper of fragrance, not a perfume cloud that announces itself from across the room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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