1
as in deceptive
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skilled
skillful with the hands
only the most cunning cabinetmaker could have crafted such a beautifully proportioned chest of drawers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in slyness
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
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2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the unmatched cunning of the scout who led them safely through the trackless wilderness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
used cunning and subterfuge to lure unwitting victims into the fraudulent scheme
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cunning
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Seehorn’s indelible portrayal of the cunning Kim Wexler transformed the character from one-off love interest to irreplaceable mainstay, and thus, a partnership was born.
—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Maybe the mere fact of having been born illustrious, with no apparent faults, with nothing to prove or to be ashamed of, had liberated John from the resentments the rest of us feel, and from the cunning and ambition such resentments fuel.
—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
Under this light, Penelope emerges as exemplary, cunning, wounded, and trapped by the male order that praises her.
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Seehorn’s indelible portrayal of the cunning Kim Wexler transformed the character from one-off love interest to irreplaceable mainstay, and thus, a partnership was born.
—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Noun
The quality that drew Kurosawa to Yonezawa’s novel in the first place is not valor or cunning but something considerably less heroic.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Maybe the mere fact of having been born illustrious, with no apparent faults, with nothing to prove or to be ashamed of, had liberated John from the resentments the rest of us feel, and from the cunning and ambition such resentments fuel.
—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
-
Off a slick feed from Houssem Aouar, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal of the game to give Algeria a 3-2 lead.
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Appollis made some slick dribbles to set up a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Adjective
-
Olise had a right-footer from the top of the box in the opening 10 minutes that required a skilled save from goalkeeper Egil Selvik.
-
Dashboards can help surface anomalies, a concentration ratio above target or a revenue trend breaking from projection, but a skilled investor still has to ask whether that pattern signals product-market fit or vulnerability.
Noun
-
The harp is not an instrument of slyness, wryness, or the earth.
-
Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
Noun
-
While students honed their skills at the Santa Monica studio for the last year and four months, Blanck found an old pilates studio in Pacific Highlands for rent, but the numbers just didn't add up.
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Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable.
Noun
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Adjective
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Available in a style with the same stripes that Paltrow favors, the top offers a subtle pattern that’ll make your outfit pop.
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The square neckline adds a flattering, feminine touch, while the subtle volume in the sleeves gives it a slightly dressier feel than your average tee.
Adjective
-
One of the few calls of the night was from Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, ready to get his hands on the skillful point guard.
-
His lyrics were layered, skillful and unorthodox.
Noun
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Even at 35, the German has the guile to make an impact in the Premier League.
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Age and guile, as the old saying goes, beat youth and skill every time.
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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