Synonym Chooser

How is the word crafty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of crafty are artful, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

Where would artful be a reasonable alternative to crafty?

The words artful and crafty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When might cunning be a better fit than crafty?

While in some cases nearly identical to crafty, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

In what contexts can foxy take the place of crafty?

The words foxy and crafty can be used in similar contexts, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than crafty?

While the synonyms slick and crafty are close in meaning, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is it sensible to use sly instead of crafty?

The synonyms sly and crafty are sometimes interchangeable, but sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When can tricky be used instead of crafty?

The meanings of tricky and crafty largely overlap; however, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for crafty?

Although the words wily and crafty have much in common, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crafty 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 Leroy Garrett What to know: Devin Walker is one of the craftiest (and most entertaining) players in the last decade of Challenges, having ruffled the feathers of even the most intimidating players (see: Johnny Bananas). Randall Colburn, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crafty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crafty
Adjective
  • McLaren’s Piastri began in pole position and initially held off Verstappen before the Dutchman displayed all the brilliance, cunning and bravery that has propelled him to four world championships, holding off the brakes as long as possible and sliding around the outside on the first turn.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
  • Unfortunately, Porsha isn’t cunning enough for this to work.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • There are some funny bits including Kenan Thompson’s moment and joking about Sherman getting fired, but the most apt word to describe this monologue is cute.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crafty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crafty. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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