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
-
Shipping intelligence data provider Kpler estimates around 12 million barrels of crude oil to have passed through the strait since the war started.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026 -
During the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, the United States actively supported Saddam Hussein — providing intelligence and diplomatic cover even as Iraq deployed chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers and civilians.—
Letters to the Editor,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The confidence that began Carrick’s spell in charge will need to be matched with new cunning and craft.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But Muck is no Epstein, malevolent and cunning.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Grace balances a razor sharp wit with striking sincerity and absolute cool.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The poor thing must’ve been scared out of its wits.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 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
-
The earthy subtlety of the beet puree complements the mushrooms, and the crunchy leeks add texture.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
-
My approach balances practicality with subtlety, choosing travel essentials that protect without advertising your valuables.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
8 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
-
Inside, cabinets are crammed with Happy Meal toys from around the globe, offering surprising insights into regional preferences and pop culture trends.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Next, the team wants to use digital reconstruction methods to correct deformation on other parts of the skull, such as the braincase, to reveal insights about the brain size of Little Foot — and potentially unlock clues about the cognitive abilities of our early human ancestors.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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