sneakiness

noun

Definition of sneakinessnext
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means she was impressed by the sneakiness with which they had planned the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sneakiness In The Executioners, and the 1962 and 1991 film adaptations of that novel, Cady is a predator specifically of women — even more specifically, young women — and he’s known for this, more so than his sneakiness, cleverness, or time served. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneakiness
  1. cunning
  2. deviousness
  3. subtlety
  4. slyness
Noun
  • The Odysseus of legend is known for his cunning and his eloquence.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026
  • In Argentina, and by Maradona, it was celebrated for its cunning.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • The practice reached new heights of creativity (or deviousness, depending on your perspective) in the modern age, when ever-more sophisticated computers allowed for ever-finer slicing and dicing of the electorate.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of deviousness
Noun
  • In other words, there’s not a lick of subtlety on this album.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • The experience of the drink is composed, elegant even, a sophisticated push and pull subtlety and counterbalance, but the list of ingredients reads, to me, to be almost flamboyantly random.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 July 2026
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • The harp is not an instrument of slyness, wryness, or the earth.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of slyness

Browse Nearby Words

sneakily
sneakiness
sneaking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sneakiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneakiness. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All