variants
also cagy
1
as in slick
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cagey
As of late, Nintendo has also been somewhat cagey about things like voice actors and the specific studios developing its games.
—
Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Jay Peters, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2025
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
This was a very tough spot against a big, cagey Vegas team that’s been constructed like something of a reverse image of the Canucks.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his Kevin Hart-Mark Wahlberg comedy Me Time, Hamburg was cagey when asked if another Meet the Parents sequel could happen.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cagey
Adjective
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But Cross can hardly keep up with his job’s basic tasks, let alone the kind of slick change represented by the person often challenging his control over Eddington: its mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal).—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
-
Liberal Ted Garcia is a slick political phony — a cartoonish whitewash of actual government authoritarians (Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Andrew Cuomo, etc.).—
Armond White,
National Review,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Teams are more hesitant, understandably so, given the penalties, to spend a bundle of money.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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More: Mount Clemens, once known for mineral baths and roses, is having a $6.5M moment While housing inventory is rising, Ayers points out that many buyers remain hesitant to jump on new listings due to widespread affordability concerns.—
Brendel Clark,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i and the big island of Hawai’i were all joined by water but divided by greedy men, cunning chiefs and a cycle of endless combat.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
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Slated for release on July 17, 2026, The Odyssey is an adaptation of the epic poem from Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, exploring themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning, and the struggle against divine will.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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What To Know Real estate agents who spoke to Redfin said buyers are becoming reluctant to finalize purchases due to economic uncertainties, in particular high mortgage rates, the potential impacts of tariffs, inflation and the possibility of a recession in the near future.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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Knowing why people are reluctant to come back is just as critical as deciding how to bring them back.—
Dr. Adil Dalal,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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The moment in which Guy and Nan reunite at the courthouse and mirror each other on a staircase and over a railing, respectively, is reminiscent of their meet cute in Season 1.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
30 July 2025
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Make lunchtime fun again with the help of a cute and colorful bento box or a fun, interactive lunch box.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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But experts tell Fortune these employment disclosures are ethically dubious and have potential for legislative pushback.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
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On July 1, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million toward Trump’s future presidential library to resolve the president’s legally dubious lawsuit against CBS News.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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As the series unspools, the wife turns out to be a wily and capable character and finds ways to exercise her lawful authority.—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
19 Mar. 2025
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The main character of an upcoming DC Universe movie, Kara is the extraterrestrial cousin to Superman, rightful owner of the wily super-dog Krypto — and, as the Man of Steel and his robot friend Four (voiced by Alan Tudyk) establish, a party animal.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Japan’s shrewd, flexible adjustment to changing U.S. political winds over the long term is also fundamentally important.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2025
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The deal is a shrewd move by Netflix which rose to become the top platform in MENA following its launch there in 2015, but has faced growing competition from Shahid in recent years.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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