ARTFUL Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'artful' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of artful are crafty , cunning , foxy , slick , sly , tricky , and wily . While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness. // elicited the information by artful questioning

Q: When might 'crafty' be a better fit than 'artful'?

The meanings of crafty and artful largely overlap; however, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. // a crafty lefthander

Q: When could 'cunning' be used to replace 'artful'?

Although the words cunning and artful have much in common, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing. // the cunning fox avoided the trap

Q: Where would 'foxy' be a reasonable alternative to 'artful'?

The words foxy and artful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. // a foxy publicity man planting stories

Q: In what contexts can 'slick' take the place of 'artful'?

The words slick and artful can be used in similar contexts, but slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. // slick operators selling time-sharing

Q: When would 'sly' be a good substitute for 'artful'?

In some situations, the words sly and artful are roughly equivalent. However, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods. // a sly corporate raider

Q: When is it sensible to use 'tricky' instead of 'artful'?

While in some cases nearly identical to artful , tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering. // a tricky political operative

Q: When can 'wily' be used instead of 'artful'?

While the synonyms wily and artful are close in meaning, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. // the wily fugitive escaped the posse

artful

adjective

ˈärt-fəl

Definition of artful next

as in cunning

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in inventive

showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in virtuoso

accomplished with trained ability that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word artful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of artful are crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When might crafty be a better fit than artful?

The meanings of crafty and artful largely overlap; however, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace artful?

Although the words cunning and artful have much in common, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

Where would foxy be a reasonable alternative to artful?

The words foxy and artful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

In what contexts can slick take the place of artful?

The words slick and artful can be used in similar contexts, but slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When would sly be a good substitute for artful?

In some situations, the words sly and artful are roughly equivalent. However, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When is it sensible to use tricky instead of artful?

While in some cases nearly identical to artful, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can wily be used instead of artful?

While the synonyms wily and artful are close in meaning, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 artful Darcy wondered whether his hands understood the world independently of the rest of him, artful navigators in a permanent dusk. —

Literary Hub, 11 May 2026 Videos generated by Pratt’s own campaign are less artful. —

Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026 Naomi Osaka Naomi Osaka, in a custom two-piece set from couturier Robert Wun, treated feathers as artful punctuation. —

Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 4 May 2026 The GlenAllachie 1990 is an artful blend, with each component serving a specific purpose. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for artful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful

Adjective

Dano’s static line delivery gets used for a chilling but laconic effect as his character’s cunning political negotiations lead to deadly outcomes.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2026

Definition of cunning

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“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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