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
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
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
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Recent Examples of cagey
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
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
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
Adjective
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
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
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
-
Allen cited a particularly slick double play Albies turned recently.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Wooden tools may periodically need to be treated with beeswax to keep them smooth and slick.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
More generally, the collective ongoing efforts by the Trump administration could equate to fewer opportunities for job seekers as employers become more hesitant to hire due to a lack of overall stability, veteran observers told Newsweek.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
-
Still, a lack of progress signs has left many investors hesitant to trust the mid-April rebound.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Leverage sales intelligence tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator to gather insights.—
Besnik Vrellaku,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
The advisor sees the president first thing in the morning for the daily intelligence briefing and leaves after the president retires for the evening, but remains on call around the clock.—
Arthur House,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Neither his fearsome resolve nor his supreme cunning—which had enabled him to vanquish his rivals and spiritually crush his inner circle—was in evidence in 1941.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2017
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
At a press screening of the film in March, these cute, interstitial clips drew big laughs.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
7 May 2025
-
Leather Small Crossbody Bag Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer just wore cute and functional outfits that reminded us how convenient crossbody bags are.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Foreign governments are increasingly reluctant to crack down on U.S. tech firms—not just because of their digital leverage and economic clout but also because doing so could provoke official backlash from Washington.—
Ian Bremmer,
Foreign Affairs,
13 May 2025
-
The Anglin family is convinced that, despite the FBI’s release of hundreds of pages of documents in the case, the agency is still reluctant to discuss the full story.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
After completing a cleaning cycle, users receive a 2D map of the pool’s layout and cleaning paths, offering insights into the areas covered.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Known for her nuanced performances and fearless role choices, Krieps will share insights into her artistic journey, the challenges of portraying complex characters, and her approach to storytelling across diverse cinematic landscapes.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
To acquire the rest, the parent company needs to pay about $2.2 billion, according to Forbes’ calculation based on the filing.—
Yue Wang,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
So, based on existing data, drivers can expect to pay an average of $838 for car repairs and around $1,500 a year for routine maintenance (as per calculations provided by Bankrate.com).—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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