Synonyms of craft

craft 1 of 2

noun

ˈkraft 

1

as in art

an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands

an expert in the craft of cabinetmaking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• art
• trade
• skill
• handicraft
• handcraft
• profession
• occupation
• vocation
• métier
• calling

2

as in boat

a small buoyant structure for travel on water

borrowed a craft to get across the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boat
• vessel
• canoe
• yacht
• kayak
• watercraft
• raft
• schooner
• taxi
• ferry
• lifeboat
• cutter
• cruiser
• barge
• sailboat
• skiff
• dinghy
• lighter
• pontoon
• surfboat
• gig
• catboat
• rowboat
• shell
• bottom
• flatboat
• powerboat
• outboard
• catamaran
• punt
• dhow
• coracle
• shallop
• launch
• motorboat
• pinnace
• keel
• scull
• scow
• dink
• pirogue
• paddleboat
• inboard
• houseboat
• longboat
• ketch
• pram
• tug
• bateau
• keelboat
• tugboat
• towboat
• outrigger
• sampan
• tender
• auxiliary
• tub
• jolly boat
• johnboat
• riverboat
• whaleboat
• dory
• gondola
• dugout
• umiak
• water taxi
• yawl
• hovercraft
• narrow boat
• curragh
• wherry
• rowing boat
• workboat
• trawler
• whaler
• piragua
• ferryboat
• banker
• lugger
• torpedo boat
• PT boat
• caïque
• assault boat
• airboat
• cockleshell
• hooker
• coble
• shrimper
• hydrofoil
• dragger
• hydroplane
• hoy
• bumboat
• seiner
• garvey
• scalloper
• gillnetter
• air-cushion vehicle

3

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery

never hesitated to resort to craft to get what they wanted in life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deception
• deceit
• cunning
• fraud
• deceptiveness
• cheating
• deceitfulness
• lying
• craftiness
• duplicity
• fakery
• dupery
• guile
• dishonesty
• secrecy
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• wiliness
• crookery
• crookedness
• double-dealing
• cozenage
• artifice
• cunningness
• foxiness
• artfulness
• subterfuge
• guilefulness
• trickery
• fraudulence
• prevarication
• chicanery
• jugglery
• mountebankery
• swindling
• skulduggery
• obliquity
• mendacity
• hypocrisy
• wile
• treacherousness
• fib
• equivocation
• shrewdness
• insincerity
• legerdemain
• chicane
• hanky-panky
• smoothness
• covertness
• deviousness
• falsehood
• furtiveness
• sanctimoniousness
• underhandedness
• sneakiness
• untruth
• stealthiness
• caginess
• slickness
• slipperiness
• shadiness
• unscrupulousness
• shiftiness
• slyness
• falsity
• oiliness
• two-facedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good faith
• sincerity
• artlessness
• openness
• forthrightness
• candor
• ingenuousness
• frankness
• directness
• plainness
• honesty
• reliability
• integrity
• guilelessness
• probity
• goodness
• dependability
• solidity
• trustworthiness
• plainspokenness
• truthfulness
• righteousness
• candidness
• decency
• trustiness
• uprightness
• reliableness
• incorruptibility
• trustability
• virtuousness

4

as in cunning

skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means

celebrated in political circles for his craft, he's the legislator who knows how to get bills passed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cunning
• artfulness
• craftiness
• subtlety
• guile
• ease
• design
• slickness
• wiliness
• subtleness
• canniness
• sneakiness
• artifice
• slyness
• deviousness
• calculation
• care
• inventiveness
• cunningness
• caginess
• ingenuity
• foxiness
• facility
• guilefulness
• cleverness
• savvy
• finesse
• shrewdness
• ingeniousness
• duplicity
• sharpness
• shiftiness
• underhandedness
• deceitfulness

5

as in skill

subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something

a really ingenious household appliance that shows a lot of craft on the part of its inventors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skill
• art
• skillfulness
• artistry
• cunning
• proficiency
• creativity
• ease
• talent
• expertise
• artfulness
• adeptness
• experience
• cleverness
• knack
• adroitness
• deftness
• learning
• masterfulness
• artifice
• aptitude
• finesse
• gift
• knowledge
• dexterity
• inventiveness
• flair
• ingenuity
• expertness
• handiness
• know-how
• bent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ineptitude
• artlessness
• ineptness
• maladroitness
• clumsiness
• awkwardness
• inability
• amateurishness
• crudeness
• rudeness
• incompetence
• incapacity
• inefficiency
• inadequacy
• ineffectiveness
• ineffectuality
• incapability
• inefficacy
• klutziness
• ineffectualness
• inadequateness

craft

2 of 2

verb

as in to prepare

to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form

spent hours crafting the perfect letter of recommendation for her prize student

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prepare
• compose
• draft
• write
• formulate
• cast
• frame
• draw up
• put together
• sculpture
• shape
• pen
• make
• form
• build
• fashion
• word
• construct
• mold
• devise
• fabricate
• phrase
• state
• assemble
• author
• express
• couch
• conceive
• verbalize
• concoct
• compound
• redraft
• indite
• piece (together)
• reformulate
• reframe

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun craft contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of craft are artifice, art, cunning, and skill. While all these words mean "the faculty of executing well what one has devised," craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

When is it sensible to use art instead of craft?

In some situations, the words art and craft are roughly equivalent. However, art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

When could artifice be used to replace craft?

While in some cases nearly identical to craft, artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

Where would cunning be a reasonable alternative to craft?

The words cunning and craft are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

When would skill be a good substitute for craft?

The meanings of skill and craft largely overlap; however, skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of craft

Noun

Balti Jaam combines traditional food counters with street food, Estonian crafts, clothing and antiques. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The company is also developing a reusable heavy lift rocket called Starship, but the craft has been dogged by development delays. — John Ruwitch, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

Comms leaders know how to craft a strategy that's resilient to a variety of risks. — Shannon Reedy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

This team shouldn’t be as bad as some expect, given coach Jeff Hafley’s ability to craft a defense and a strong running game. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026