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noun

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word cunning distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of cunning are artful, crafty, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

In what contexts can artful take the place of cunning?

While in some cases nearly identical to cunning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

Where would crafty be a reasonable alternative to cunning?

The synonyms crafty and cunning are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of cunning?

The words foxy and cunning 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 could slick be used to replace cunning?

In some situations, the words slick and cunning are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When would sly be a good substitute for cunning?

Although the words sly and cunning have much in common, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When might tricky be a better fit than cunning?

While the synonyms tricky and cunning are close in meaning, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can wily be used instead of cunning?

The meanings of wily and cunning largely overlap; however, 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 cunning
Adjective
However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss…because Emily has a big secret. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025 On this occasion, Fernandez’s cross flies over Cucurella and straight into the thick of the action, where Joao Pedro’s cunning movement creates space to get his header away. Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Others praised the pup's cunning. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025 Denzel plays the earnest private with a secret with a smart, eager-to-please manner that disguises the cunning and danger underneath. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
  • There are also two new delightfully cute additions to the collection — a shiny gold pair that would look radiant on warm-tone complexions and a pair that’s as stylishly macabre as the others, only smaller in size.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The songs remind kids that costumes can be cute and colorful instead of frightening.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Approximately 90 percent of formalwear garments are manufactured in Asia, including in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Myanmar and other countries that have the skilled labor and infrastructure needed to produce them.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If your Wi-Fi is protected by a weak password or uses outdated encryption, a skilled attacker might gain access without ever stepping inside your house.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ay, the superb slyness of that last response!
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Following her departure from the New York Times in 2020, Weiss sought out a market for her television skills without success.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
  • During interview rounds when applicants showcase their skills through mini projects or tests, the executive values prospective hires who enhance their assignments with the tools.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Everything can be used as a tool for good and to build, or for bad and destruction and deception.
    Marc Malkin, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The question now is whether our ability to detect deception can evolve as fast as the tools that create it.
    Big Think, Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Though the Lions’ offensive linemen do an excellent job of selling run on play-action passes, there’s still a subtle difference to note early between run blocking and pass blocking.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • There’s subtle tang from the sour cream and cream cheese.
    Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As if that wasn’t enough, Twenty One Pilots also continues to demonstrate a skillful way of designing TikTok- and Instagram story-ready moments for fans of all flavors.
    Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Ragnar is one of the very best Nordic crime writers, as skillful in thrillers like this series as in murder mystery stories.
    Anders de la Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Creativity was sorely lacking last season, with the side mustering the lowest xG of any side to avoid relegation, but now an attacking midfield trident of Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye brims with promise and guile.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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