1
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
negotiates business deals with all of the proverbial canniness of an old-time horse trader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
the canniness with which she negotiated her contract as spokesperson for the shoe manufacturer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canniness
Noun
-
Many of these soldiers are still involved in supporting Ukraine, including by providing intelligence, logistics, and training assistance worth at least tens of billions per year.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026 -
The hackers accessed emails for staffers on the China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services committees, according to a new Financial Times report.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Because Maradona, in a burst of cunning and trickery, also used his hand.—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Landing a good apartment in New York City can take some cunning.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Olsen is known for imbuing small spaces with grandeur, wit, and the kind of high-end design once reserved for those with serious square footage, like in his Brooklyn brownstone.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The comedian, known for her razor-sharp wit and fearless approach to comedy, made waves with her hosting debut in 2025, earning critical acclaim for her performance.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mike Bowman, designer, furniture industry expert, and director of marketing for Harmonia Living, says this trend relies on furnishings to bring artfulness to a space—rather than just functionality.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
-
And Ten Hag’s training ground shrewdness was meant to correct that.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its challenge will be scale — and whether subtlety can compete with spectacle and satire once preferential ballots come into play.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The visual arc deliberately eschewed subtlety.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.—
Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com,
al,
20 Jan. 2023
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But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.—
Gordon Monson,
The Salt Lake Tribune,
8 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Lately, several of the videos have come from the Indiana football program and Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has gone viral a number of times for his candid humility and insight during the Hoosiers’ unlikely run to the College Football Playoff national championship.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
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The Semafor World Economy Global Advisory Board is a group of visionary business leaders helping Semafor shape its new platform that empowers global CEOs to navigate extraordinary complexity through the expert curation of profound insights, ideas, and diverse perspectives.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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