1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of artful
Photo by Emily Minton Redfield Designer Nadia Watts founded her eponymous Denver design firm in 2009, and since then she’s become known for her artful—and often colorful—approach to interiors.
—
Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025
The film is a remarkably auteur-y and artful delivery mechanism for high — and highly creative — shock value.
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Pair it with similarly palate-cleansing pastels or employ some pattern clashing with stripes and prints for a more artful bedscape.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
My regular advice when anyone questions artful but uncomfortable chairs is to buy them and have your guests sit in them; in this case, everyone can sit elsewhere and look at it.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025
The film is a remarkably auteur-y and artful delivery mechanism for high — and highly creative — shock value.
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Pair it with similarly palate-cleansing pastels or employ some pattern clashing with stripes and prints for a more artful bedscape.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
My regular advice when anyone questions artful but uncomfortable chairs is to buy them and have your guests sit in them; in this case, everyone can sit elsewhere and look at it.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful
Adjective
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Particularly cunning or politically convenient women have infrequently maneuvered into the halls of power, but these female monarchs have served mostly as short detours during times when a male crown prince was either too young or too weak to stand on his own.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
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Anderson stands the original on its head: grooming Liesl as a successor, Zsa-zsa introduces her to a world where cunning and force hold sway.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Hiccup is an inventive, awkward teen who's an outsider among his fellow Vikings.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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Alexander-Arnold had long been an inventive force in England and would have added to his scrapbook of spectacular assists and goals as coach Arne Slot’s squad seeks more trophies.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Related Articles Miss Manners: Another mother chided me for group-texting a cute photo.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
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Plus, a slight slit in the legs adds a cute and playful touch.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The argument that Trump has violated the 10th Amendment is a clever subversion of a line of thinking that has traditionally been backed by conservative judges, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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That dish is clever, for sure, but it’s served in an oddly gargantuan portion, and its playful clash of textures and temperatures wears out its welcome after a bite or two.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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Several would require the skillful balancing of adverse political interests, including labor unions, real estate companies and pro-tenant groups.—
Mihir Zaveri,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
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In short, this is about being emotionally skillful and multifaceted.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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The family secrets were subtle but pervasive, reverberating not just through this nuclear family, but also across generations.—
Susan Walter
June 6,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
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Your new album, Faith, is a lot subtler than your debut, Signs.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here).—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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As an actor, he's worked with many of the most innovative filmmakers in the U.S., including Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski), Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, The Dead Don't Die), and Abel Ferrara (King of New York), among many others.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Managing it all behind the scenes is Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli, who served as the theater company’s director of new works for nearly a decade before taking on the artistic director role in 2023.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
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Hailing from Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Sherman-Palladino, Étoile starred Luke Kirby (who played Lenny Bruce on Mrs. Maisel) as Jack McMillan, the artistic director of a prestigious New York ballet company.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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