guilefulness

noun

Definition of guilefulnessnext
1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means he had an inherent guilefulness that made him a formidable power broker in Washington

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery it was guilefulness and not goodness that got the gold digger her millions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guilefulness
  1. cunning
  2. deception
  3. subtlety
  4. deceptiveness
  5. artfulness
  6. fraud
  7. ease
  8. deceit
Noun
  • Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • Most often, this would be a network of fake accounts discovered by social media companies as part of their efforts to eliminate bots, scams, and online deception on their platforms.
    — RENÉE DIRESTA, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In writing her for the series, Kazan realized Cathy, despite her deceptions, is almost always telling the truth.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of deception
Noun
  • The subtlety and the power of what Gilroy and his star achieve here should not be undersold.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Part of lilac’s staying power may also come from its subtlety.
    — Jennet Jusu, Allure, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.
    — Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of deceptiveness
Noun
  • The term seems to imply a mastery of all the resources of a form, displayed in a surprising context without self-conscious artfulness.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of artfulness
Noun
  • Collins noted that Kao, who was facing federal charges at the time, was convicted of money laundering and bank fraud.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Molloy’s fraud was on Southeastern, a National Rail operator, rather than the Tube, but fare evasion still costs London’s transit system heavily.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraud
Noun
  • Even the blackout curtains that opened with the touch of a bedside button lent the room ease and elegance.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Even the Debbie Downers saying this will cost them an arm and a leg with be put at ease knowing that the Beer Bone will only run them $6 at the game this weekend.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ease
Noun
  • There was money, manipulation, secret meetings with shady characters in China, fake identities, lies, trickery, and deceit.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Its Emmy success, and Rhys’s record-setting win along with it, is built on a foundation of deceit.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceit
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.

Browse Nearby Words

guileful
guilefulness
guileless
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Cite this Entry

“Guilefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guilefulness. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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