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caginess

noun

variants also cageyness
1
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters most consumers should possess sufficient caginess to see through that scam

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the lawyer's celebrated caginess makes her the first choice of the hopelessly guilty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for caginess
  1. intelligence
  2. cunning
  3. wit
  4. deviousness
  5. shrewdness
  6. subtlety
  7. insight
  8. slyness
Noun
  • The Mineral Fire broke out near Iowa Hill Road and had been mapped at 2 acres by a Cal Fire intelligence aircraft.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Kao is widely regarded within Indian intelligence circles as a formative figure in the country’s espionage apparatus, with successive R&AW chiefs having credited his strategic approach.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • Laced with Horgan’s signature combination of unsparing honesty and sparkling wit, Youth is a fleet and frisky reminder that growing into yourself is a lifelong endeavor.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
  • What follows is a modern picaresque journey, in which a clever underdog has to rely on her wit and wiles to survive a corrupt and perilous world.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of wit
Noun
  • The piece urges critical inquiry into such claims, emphasizing that human oversight, not AI's inherent deviousness, can be a sizable contributor.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The rules allowed offensive linemen to grapple and hold the bottom of their shoulder pads with savvy bordering on deviousness.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of deviousness
Noun
  • Spain’s shrewdness came in their refusal to engage with off-the-ball trivialities.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Instead, Franklin will rise by virtue of hard work and (actual) shrewdness.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of shrewdness
Noun
  • Yee Eun Nam’s projections inject into this transient world a welcome subtlety.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The smallest detail can affect the toy’s value, from the stuffing — the initial batch was reportedly made with PVC pellets, while later versions were made with polyethylene pellets — to subtleties in the eyes, nose or mouth.
    — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • Lee’s transpacific perspective has given him a unique insight into the challenges that global companies face in realizing AI’s potential.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Regularly revisiting these assessments as teams evolve can provide valuable insights into how dynamics shift over time and ensure that teams remain balanced and high-performing.
    — Karla Vallecillo, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of insight
Noun
  • The harp is not an instrument of slyness, wryness, or the earth.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of slyness
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.

Browse Nearby Words

cagey
caginess
caging
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Cite this Entry

“Caginess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caginess. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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