1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
other antique dealers envied her for her craftiness in getting people to sell their treasures for a song
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
according to the confidence man's credo of craftiness, "There's a sucker born every minute"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cute
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a crafty real estate broker who got people to sell their property at bargain prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of craftiness
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Stock flat Easton Cowan, F, 19, London Knights The energetic and crafty winger has returned to the OHL’s Knights after a disappointing run with Canada at the World Juniors with a near-singular focus.
—Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
And so their crafty new attacks send out links that direct to legitimate websites from a PC but to dangerous websites from a phone.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
The crafty right-hander played for Boston in 2021 and was excellent for much of the campaign -- 3.46 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 52 innings through August -- before fading down the stretch as a heavy workload caught up to him.
—Dakota Randall, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for craftiness
Adjective
The crafty Magic forward often relies on his footwork to slice through opposing defenses and attack downhill to get near the basket.
—Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Stock flat Easton Cowan, F, 19, London Knights The energetic and crafty winger has returned to the OHL’s Knights after a disappointing run with Canada at the World Juniors with a near-singular focus.
—Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
And so their crafty new attacks send out links that direct to legitimate websites from a PC but to dangerous websites from a phone.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
The crafty right-hander played for Boston in 2021 and was excellent for much of the campaign -- 3.46 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 52 innings through August -- before fading down the stretch as a heavy workload caught up to him.
—Dakota Randall, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for craftiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for craftiness
Noun
-
Neither his fearsome resolve nor his supreme cunning—which had enabled him to vanquish his rivals and spiritually crush his inner circle—was in evidence in 1941.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2017
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But these seductions or deceptions are canceled when the work confronts us with the photographic records of the performative procedure itself—and not only by making the photograph an integral component, the dialectical complement to the material sculptural production.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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He’s got some deception on the puck and does a good job holding onto it to wait for secondary options to open up, but slows the game down too much.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
The knotted fabric straps have an elevated look, making these cute enough to wear with your favorite sundresses and skirts.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
1 June 2025
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Shows can only be so cute or funny or familiar or fresh.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
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None of these spring explorations of sisterly deceit and self-deception has been able to surpass Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters as the recent genre peak.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2025
-
Starring Tom Cruise, the movies are loaded with action, deceit and globe-spanning adventures – everything a good spy film should be.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
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While not necessarily with the same resume as Mitchell, Smith’s defensive guile and ability to space the floor with his shooting could stand as a low-cost alternative to Mitchell, likely at the veteran minimum.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 May 2025
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But here, Gyllenhaal mesmerizes in a career-best performance that taps into the infinite well of his talent, portraying Iago’s scorching resentment, guile and humor.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Most pharmaceutical patents have their roots in work done or supported by the NIH, and many scientists at pharmaceutical manufacturers learned their craft at institutions supported by the NIH or at the NIH itself.—
Elisabeth Rosenthal,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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On Milwaukee’s Eastside, Pruitt recommends squeezing into the Estate, an intimate 1977-vintage club renowned for its jazz shows and craft cocktails.—
Elaine Glusac,
AFAR Media,
21 May 2025
Noun
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What did Todd and Julie Chrisley go to prison for? After nearly a decade on air, the pair faced legal trouble for a number of bank and tax fraud offenses.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
28 May 2025
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On Monday, the president pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on charges of conspiracy, fraud and bribery.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Craftiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craftiness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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