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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The chief specimen here (played by MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry) is a massive beast whose brute strength is matched by his cunning.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
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On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
Noun
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This deception couldn’t come at a worse time for America’s debt.—
Thomas Kahn,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
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Unlike earlier studies that uncovered evasion or deception, this research exposed a more alarming phenomenon: models calculating that unethical behavior was a justifiable strategy for survival.—
Hamilton Mann,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
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When confronted, deceit turns their romantic evening into a darkly comedic nightmare.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
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The nation has now paid a steep price for its deceit and deception.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The charges arose from what law enforcement officials described as a nationwide operation that also resulted in the seizure of financial accounts, websites and laptops that were used to carry out the fraud.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
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That they are aimed at reducing abuse, waste and fraud.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guile. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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