cannily

adverb

Definition of cannilynext
as in artfully

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 cannily His presence is so recessive that the resulting footage, however cannily composed, looks, for the most part, like it was made by an unattended surveillance camera. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026 Rental Family cannily exploits its unusual premise to both comical and moving effect. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Although that self-realization is timeless, Roder cannily positions it to speak to contemporary times. — Stephen Saito, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025 Sections of the granite supports of the Keck statue are cannily manipulated and embellished with stars and swirling vortex-forms in Lithichrome paint into works of art themselves. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 So begins a cycle of financial pressure, entrepreneurial hurdles, and major crimes committed out of desperation that cannily blurs the line between legitimate business strategy and the art of the con. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Mar. 2026 The special’s opening half-hour is a series of meaningful opening salvos like this, cannily shoehorned into catch-up anecdotes, each of them laying the groundwork for where Nanjiani ultimately wants the hour to land without tipping his hand in one direction or another. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cannily
  1. artfully
  2. falsely
  3. deceptively
  4. dishonestly
  5. deceitfully
  6. artificially
Adverb
  • The result is a bed that looks tidy and composed rather than slept-in—artfully arranged, and frankly, a little pleased with its own posture.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026
  • The new owner, Jasen Mark, snapped it up four years ago, then spent $8 million to turn a rundown resort into a new five-star property that artfully straddles modern amenities and a nostalgic embrace of simpler times.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Definition of artfully
Adverb
  • Russia has repeatedly falsely claimed to be in control of cities when that is far from the case.
    — Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • But many drivers falsely believe high-octane gas offers a kind of treat for their engines.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of falsely
Adverb
  • The delightful and deceptively deep family mystery comedy stars Hugh Jackman as an English shepherd (Hugh Jackman) who is found dead.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • By the time the data are viewed by a human, the pattern looks deceptively coherent because every subsequent step was built on the same flawed interpretation.
    — Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of deceptively
Adverb
  • In that lawsuit, State Farm said that the record only showed a disagreement over the cause of roof damage, and that there was no evidence the company had acted dishonestly.
    — Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Additional uses of geolocation data, the providers say, include proving a bettor is dishonestly disputing credit card charges, revealing sign-up bonus abuse or showing that someone is illegally making proxy wagers across state lines.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of dishonestly
Adverb
  • Jacob goes to Isaac with this hairy disguise, deceitfully announces himself as Esau, and obtains his father’s blessing—much to the chagrin of his brother.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
  • To help fill their coffers even more, the lobbyists deceitfully expanded the definition of those notch years to include everyone born through 1926.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of deceitfully
Adverb
  • Next to the pitch were tents artificially heated to a minimum of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, where players completed fitness tests on exercise bikes while staff measured their performance.
    — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • In short, the owners colluded to artificially suppress players’ salaries.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of artificially

Browse Nearby Words

cannikins
cannily
canniness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cannily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cannily. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cannily

Nglish: Translation of cannily for Spanish Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All