1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
Herberger was both a good tactician and a canny man-manager.
—
Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 June 2025
At the same time, the canny defense lawyer also made a point of mentioning that Combs isn’t charged with any of that and the government should own up to that.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 May 2025
While a few acknowledged this as a canny marketing move, many rolled their eyes.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
But that film was a cannier bid for next-level success, offsetting its three-act corniness with emotional stakes that led to a crescendo of its genius headliner’s performance prowess.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 June 2025
At the same time, the canny defense lawyer also made a point of mentioning that Combs isn’t charged with any of that and the government should own up to that.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 May 2025
While a few acknowledged this as a canny marketing move, many rolled their eyes.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
But that film was a cannier bid for next-level success, offsetting its three-act corniness with emotional stakes that led to a crescendo of its genius headliner’s performance prowess.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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Right now, Meta pretty much owns the smart glasses space and these specs could help cement that leadership.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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He’s evaluated everything from TVs and soundbars to smart gadgets and wearables, ...—
Parker Hall,
Wired News,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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These fan-favorite Tommy Bahama sheets are so soft, comfortable, and cozy that, according to one five-star Amazon reviewer, nuzzling in them feels like sleeping over at grandma’s.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2025
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Shoppers found this shirt to be made of good quality material and comfortable enough to wear on hot summer days.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Although there are no easy solutions to these multiplying threats, U.S. leaders can significantly mitigate them by making astute, yet still modest, changes to the arsenal itself and to the overall role of nuclear strategy in U.S. foreign and defense policy.—
VIPIN NARANG,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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The 51-year-old is widely considered one of the most astute tacticians in the Premier League and has been the figurehead of one of the smartest, shrewdest clubs anywhere in European soccer for the last seven years.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The beaches are wide and relaxed, and the surrounding trails offer dramatic views of the Ligurian coastline.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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There are photographs from those years, in an album with captions my mother wrote on bits of masking tape: my parents posing with other recent arrivals from Kolkata, looking relaxed on what must have been a Sunday afternoon.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Were these the shrewd moves of a wunderkind on the doorstep of a historic election upset?—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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The Thunder’s championship run was the product of shrewd front office decisions, patient development, and a little bit of luck.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The irony of contrast to the former inhabitants’ austere lifestyle, renouncing worldly goods, surely wouldn’t be lost on the savvy guests.—
Beth Landman,
HollywoodReporter,
21 June 2025
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Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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