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cunning

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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
Tracy and Lanthimos have already given Michelle a cunning intro by that point, revealing her to be a master of empty corporate-speak. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 Sorrentino pulls it off in a few cunning ways. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one 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. Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 July 2025 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. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
  • Ofeefan Long-Sleeve A-Line Ribbed-Knit Mini Dress This mini sweater dress would look cute with a cropped leather jacket and coordinating knee-high boots.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Ouligay Period Bag My teen and her friends always make sure to keep their period stashes organized in one cute pouch like this black one.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Set in 1819 Hispaniola, just prior to the Dominican Republic’s push for independence, the drama centers on an unexpected trio – a young Spanish noble, a skilled Chinese silk artisan and a Haitian soldier who’s abandoned his post.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Rather, the bots are skilled at mimicking human reactions to stressful situations, responding to users in ways that often reflect racist and sexist biases.
    Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Martin’s energy onstage always skyrockets and his performance skills are undiminished.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Alfons Freij is a mobile defenceman with enough puck skill to impress, but whose decision-making needs improvement before being considered an NHL player.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Advances in deception and seeking technologies will further shape this contest, as each side works to reduce the effectiveness of the other’s systems.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Minnesota’s Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson condemned the deception and affirmed how troubling the ambush was.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This planet is electric, unpredictable and genius with its approach, but its transits are anything but subtle.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Even subtle light or noise can disrupt sleep cycles, preventing you from reaching the deeper, most restorative stages of sleep necessary for physical and mental recovery.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The more success rolled, the more damage done, the more skillful the hack and so on.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Powell, skillful at opaque Fed-speak, nonetheless signaled a simulative change is likely.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
  • There are no traces of guile, cynicism, arrogance or duplicity.
    John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • His lurid saga — set in the tropics, the plot revolving around deceit and a dead body — would be just the sort of onscreen story PMI specialized in financing.
    Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
  • And in a world where time is money, conditions are ripe for a perfect storm of greed, deceit, and willful gullibility—all in the hope of getting ahead faster than the rest.
    Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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