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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
Animation Station Vampire Hunter D This stone-cold, ’80s goth anime classic is rarely available to stream legally, and the dual Hidive-Shudder collaborative release is a canny way to present it.
—
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 2 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for canny
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 2 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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One of the challenges comes from a fundamental problem in how smart city initiatives are executing the ever-changing digital movement.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
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She’s got that great State Farm commercial where everything’s better from the logo – terrific ad, very smart.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Dress comfortably: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to stay comfortable.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
11 July 2025
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Madueke’s ability to play on the left could also help Arsenal, but that may come down to whether Arteta is comfortable playing a left-footer on that side.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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As many of our astute commenters guessed, between the peeing on himself and the trouble getting it up, Harry Goldenblatt has prostate cancer.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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An astute and compassionate portrait of sisterhood, flaws and all, the dynamics between the characters are sublime.—
Fran Littlewood
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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In its pleasantly complicated world-building, the series manages to be a shrewd political thriller, a cracking adventure, and a haunting religious allegory rolled into one.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
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Beyond long-running The Lawrence Welk Show, which debuted on ABC on this day in 1955, Welk was a bandleader, an accordion player, and a shrewd businessman synonymous with squeaky-clean (and older-skewing) entertainment.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The Hershey Company, known as a confectionery giant, is transforming itself into a snacking powerhouse through savvy acquisitions, bold brand building, and strategic retail partnerships.—
Shelley E. Kohan,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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In addition to lucrative NBA contracts from his time playing with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, off the court, the father of three has displayed his business savvy as an entrepreneur.—
Diane J. Cho,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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