variants
also cagy
1
as in slick
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 hesitant
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cagey
As for the significance of the word mammalian, which implies that other types of animals are being nurtured in this environment, Erickson was cagey.
—
Jen Chaney, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
As of late, Nintendo has also been somewhat cagey about things like voice actors and the specific studios developing its games.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Jen Chaney, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
As of late, Nintendo has also been somewhat cagey about things like voice actors and the specific studios developing its games.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cagey
Adjective
-
There’s a lot to like about the design—relatively slim, slick front- and back-end chassis lighting, a comfortable keyboard, and a nice display—and the performance is plenty capable.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
-
And more often than not, the real experience at home failed to live up to the slick illustrations promised on the sticker of a Sega Genesis cartridge.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet even in the face of these losses, many retailers remain hesitant to modernize their approach to returns, fearing that stricter policies could hurt customer satisfaction.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Institutions remain hesitant, citing compliance uncertainty, poor execution quality, and limited integration with existing financial infrastructure.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
This cunning predator is a nocturnal sheet web spider, Psechrus clavis, which captures fireflies as prey.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Estimates of the number of rapes committed vary widely — up to as many as 120,000 — according to data compiled by the researchers, with many reluctant to report the attacks.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
The Miami Herald attempted to speak with one of Dufresne’s sisters in Miami, but the family has been reluctant to go public, friends say.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Pair it with some on-sale Adidas sneakers and a cute $15 crossbody bag that’s nearly half off.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
28 Aug. 2025
-
There are more cute fall dresses where those came from.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Many in Hollywood were dubious as to whether Universal and Amblin could reboot the Jurassic franchise for a third time, and birth a new trilogy more than three decades after Steven Spielberg’s dinos first stomped onto the big screen in 1993’s Jurassic Park.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Besides there being considerable variation in terms of COVID-19 vaccine policy among our peers, which makes claims about alignment dubious, there’s the issue of insurance coverage.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The trifecta of Venice, Toronto, and New York (and, of course, that wily and secretive Telluride) once again promises a compelling lineup of international auteurs, breakout discoveries, and major studio contenders.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
25 Aug. 2025
-
If anything, Fast X raises the stakes higher than ever, introducing a wily new foe who will stop at nothing to take down Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his team.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Shrek 2 took everything audiences loved about the first movie and amplified it, from the absurdist takes on fairy tale legends to its shrewd deployment of pop culture iconography.—
Skyler Trepel September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Boston is a first-class organization that scouts well, drafts well and always manages to make shrewd trades and financial decisions, but the Celtics' road back to the finals just became exceedingly more difficult.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share