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
-
Of what could be seen, however, open source intelligence analysts identified the IRIS Sahand, IRIS Sabalan, and IRIS Zagros as damaged, and the IRIS Makran as heavily damaged.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026 -
According to data from air cargo market intelligence firm Rotate published Sunday, the airspace closures in the Middle East resulted in an 18 percent week-over-week decline in available global air cargo capacity.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Over thousands of years of history, our propaganda has repeatedly sought to portray ourselves as the plucky underdogs, surviving against huge physical odds by marshaling our intelligence and native cunning against the brute forces of nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Holding viewers by the throat for a handful of strong beats, even as the script slips through the entire cast’s fingers, the devilish actor sells Besson’s interpretation on charisma and cunning.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gavalas was a normal guy, Edelson said – a golfer, a funny person with a sarcastic wit, a video gamer.—
Brittany Wallman
Updated March 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The trailer opens with Hal jumping out of a moving car, leaving John flying off a cliff, relying on his quick wits and Green Lantern powers to save himself.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Venusian shrewdness and Mercurian intelligence are coming together to boost your analytical powers — at least, in regard to your own finances.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
-
And Ten Hag’s training ground shrewdness was meant to correct that.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other subtleties during this Knicks defensive 180 include Landry Shamet rounding into form since missing time with a shoulder injury.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Many of the shows opened with several looks of total black, where the focus becomes about subtleties in texture, fabrics and draping to make a statement.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cignetti has tapped into a distinctly Hoosier brand of team pride, which proves that his acumen is just as strong off the football field as on it.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
28 Jan. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
With the main oil futures closed for the weekend, there’s limited insight into how traders are reacting to the latest attacks.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The awards were handed out Friday night at UCLA’s Royce Hall, and to Oscar watchers provided insight into the Oscars race for best editing.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
