1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
a shady salesman who usually relies on a combination of quick thinking and guile
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a person so full of guile he can't even be trusted to give you the correct time of day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guile
Smalls displayed his guile and courage in the midst of chattel slavery and the Civil War.
—
Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2025
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
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
All of which is to say, Cooper is very good at playing someone adept at persuasion, either through intimidation or guile.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guile
Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2025
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
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
All of which is to say, Cooper is very good at playing someone adept at persuasion, either through intimidation or guile.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guile
Noun
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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
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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,
28 May 2025
Noun
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The deception here is the notion that these four men are playing against one another, cards or dice or some type of game.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Clown references imply the fans are in on Swift's schemes, here for the deception and recognize the serious undertones beneath the singer's stage makeup.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Gi-seok had been caught up in the delicate web of power and deceit that holds Seoul’s two major gangs—the Juwoon Group and the Bongsan Group—in place.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
6 June 2025
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What begins as a convenient living arrangement spirals into a dangerous game of desire and deceit.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the rise of AI and sophisticated fraud techniques means organizations are managing today's threats with yesterday's tools.—
Chris McHenry,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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GiveDirectly says that's a lower fraud rate than traditional forms of aid.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guile. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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