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
Independent publishers are canny, resilient actors, not fragile victims.
—
Elizabeth Kaye Cook
august 6, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
Offshore asset practices of the uber-rich The uber-rich aren't like the rest of us in so many ways, including their canny exploitation of highly secretive offshore financial systems to conceal their assets and/or identities.
—ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
While under the pon farr's influence, Spock sneakily redirected the Enterprise to his homeworld, and — following a spot of canny manipulation from his betrothed, T'Pring — ended up scrapping with his captain in a fight to the death.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 31 July 2025
But Season 3 called for some canny set and location management, in order to fit in everything from a mining town to an English manor in between the show’s existing builds.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Elizabeth Kaye Cook
august 6, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
Offshore asset practices of the uber-rich The uber-rich aren't like the rest of us in so many ways, including their canny exploitation of highly secretive offshore financial systems to conceal their assets and/or identities.
—ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
While under the pon farr's influence, Spock sneakily redirected the Enterprise to his homeworld, and — following a spot of canny manipulation from his betrothed, T'Pring — ended up scrapping with his captain in a fight to the death.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 31 July 2025
But Season 3 called for some canny set and location management, in order to fit in everything from a mining town to an English manor in between the show’s existing builds.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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And that's not even counting any of the wholly original new shows this fall that are smart, gripping and exciting.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Elena Linari is a smart defensive signing, too.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pari Pari is the brainchild of Benjamin Chemouny, Hugo Dayan and Edouard Benitah, who aimed to create an atmosphere that was elegant and yet also comfortable, a place for a quick lunch or a lengthier dinner with 25 counter seats — and a lot of ambition.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
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The journey is comfortable, with reserved seats, onboard restrooms, and no worries about parking or crowded overlooks.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Whereas the former revealed the many ways in which the responsibility for keeping families and communities together falls on women (an observation that informs the new series as well), Ingelsby’s latest makes an astute study of guilt, revenge, and forgiveness.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
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Dan had done the right thing, but not the strategic or politically astute thing.—
Carol Geffner,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Button it up and wear it like a sweater, or layer it over a tee for a more relaxed look.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Sep. 2025
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Fall’s offering includes voluminous trousers, sculptural dresses, relaxed suits, lots of knitwear and capsules for men in Motion Wool and Motion Nylon fabrics.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The deadline day signing of Kolo Muani was a shrewd move to give him another option.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Craig has played shrewd detective Blanc in 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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Our new identity was built for the digital-first, culture-savvy, information-hungry generation.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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