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
It’s also shown a bit of cleverness and guile, which, yes, is a very good thing, indeed.
—
The Editors, National Review, 16 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for guile
The Editors, National Review, 16 June 2025
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
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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Those convictions ended up being tossed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the scheme, while involving deception and corruption, did not violate federal law.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Aug. 2025
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None of those terms is easily quantifiable, though training facilities such as Driveline Baseball are studying the details that produce deception.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Who will stay truthful and who will choose deceit to get ahead?—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
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Your discussions are subject to confusion, misinterpretation, even deceit.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The Justice Department is investigating potential mortgage fraud, which Schiff has denied.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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For years, machine learning has been used to detect fraud and monitor suspicious activity.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guile. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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