1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
tried to fix the game with a guileful plot to sabotage the other team's bats, but the umpire caught them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
received a guileful answer when I asked the dealer if the used car had ever been in a collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guileful
Adjective
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Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026 -
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There is a relaxing vibe about Hilton Head, and a lot of wedges in the hands of the best players, both of which can be deceptive.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Anything else amounts to a deceptive user experience that can discourage users from visiting unfamiliar pages in the future.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Fly across the world to visit archives and then look at additional pamphlets just because the covers look cute.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
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For adventurous travelers who want to look cute in photos but also have a hike, tennis match, or other adventure on the agenda, this pleated skirt is an ideal pick.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The state agency that oversees Medicaid has been under scrutiny after the discovery of millions of dollars in potentially fraudulent payments.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The documents describe an elaborate hoax in which the defendants allegedly created fake companies and fraudulent email accounts and driver’s licenses to help fool lenders into loaning them huge sums of money.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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However, on appliances that aren’t washed just by the process of using them, this DIY duo may leave a slick film and odd, lingering smells.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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The inclement weather was a factor early with slick footballs impacting the passing game, but the group’s spirits remained high.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Leptospires survive in shady, wet and muddy environments, building up on mud particles as slime.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Alex Cooper asked Alix Earle what’s the beef between them after Earle had seemingly been reposting and commenting on shady videos about her for some time.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Custom metallic-textile curtains are used to help filter light and protect sensitive works, while allowing subtle changes throughout the day and seasons to shape the viewing experience.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
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While Drescher used the Pink Passion shade, there are five other colors to pick from, including a timeless bright red and subtle neutral hue.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Still just missing that big hit to put some of these crooked numbers up there.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Guileful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guileful. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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