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
-
Managing and interpreting the flood of data would be impossible without machine intelligence.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025 -
Counterterrorism strategies must continue to adapt to meet this evolving battleground, leveraging not only military and intelligence tools but also public-private partnerships with tech platforms, AI monitoring, and global diplomacy.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Luke Shaw’s technique and cunning at centre-back deserved to be better rewarded.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Others praised the pup's cunning.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But will any of us fans still have our wits by then?—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Maximalists can lean into bold, dramatic hues, while those who prefer subtlety can opt for earthy neutrals that blend seamlessly with their kitchen decor.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With uncanny accuracy, latent space manipulation records vocal subtleties and micro-expressions.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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
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Cite this Entry
“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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