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
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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
The Hornets showed some guile, climbing out of a cavernous 22-point deficit that was a direct result of too many turnovers, a lack of defensive intensity and yielding a flurry of 30 first-half points in the paint.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Former Heat Fades The 37-year-old right-hander, who broke in with Atlanta as NL Rookie of the Year in 2011, lacks his old velocity but compensates with a combination of guile and experience.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guile
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Former Heat Fades The 37-year-old right-hander, who broke in with Atlanta as NL Rookie of the Year in 2011, lacks his old velocity but compensates with a combination of guile and experience.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guile
Noun
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The confidence that began Carrick’s spell in charge will need to be matched with new cunning and craft.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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But Muck is no Epstein, malevolent and cunning.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Investigators say Ford used a two-part deception.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Staff,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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But then there’s another wrinkle that Holmes is throwing at batters that could really ramp up the deception.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The federal government has accused Bien-Amie of spinning a decades-long web of deceit involving multiple identities — and wives — to gain a green card and later American citizenship.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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They are all caught in a web of deceit and revenge.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Police have so far arrested 38 people on accusations related to the complex, including manslaughter and fraud.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
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His two co-defendants have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud but have not yet been sentenced.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Grohl refused to answer additional questions about his cheating, instead suggesting that the Foo Fighters’ upcoming album contains songs and lyrics that allude to it.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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The cheating isn’t new, this argument goes; it’s just getting discovered and prosecuted more frequently.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guile. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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