1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
While a few acknowledged this as a canny marketing move, many rolled their eyes.
—
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
But that film was a cannier bid for next-level success, offsetting its three-act corniness with emotional stakes that led to a crescendo of its genius headliner’s performance prowess.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
And yet, pursuing these themes, the Pope revealed himself, throughout the twelve years of his papacy, to be a canny maker and promoter of imagery.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
The lower section featured a fanning hem in stiff and immaculately white fabric, resulting in a canny visual pun that translated the visual register of suiting onto a classic ballgown (and required a fleet of attendants to carry it onto the carpet unscathed).
—Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2025
But that film was a cannier bid for next-level success, offsetting its three-act corniness with emotional stakes that led to a crescendo of its genius headliner’s performance prowess.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
And yet, pursuing these themes, the Pope revealed himself, throughout the twelve years of his papacy, to be a canny maker and promoter of imagery.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
The lower section featured a fanning hem in stiff and immaculately white fabric, resulting in a canny visual pun that translated the visual register of suiting onto a classic ballgown (and required a fleet of attendants to carry it onto the carpet unscathed).
—Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
-
With the longer battery life, lighter design and smart safety features, this jetpack is definitely for anyone looking to make their underwater adventures more exciting.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2025
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Moreover, waving the flag of a foreign country isn’t prideful, or politically smart in the least.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Once a company is comfortable aligning with a trend, plan the pivot strategy.—
Parna Sarkar-Basu,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
As of Sunday afternoon, the Tigers have a comfortable 9-game lead in the AL Central.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
The 51-year-old is widely considered one of the most astute tacticians in the Premier League and has been the figurehead of one of the smartest, shrewdest clubs anywhere in European soccer for the last seven years.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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It should be noted that Bouchard was an astute draft selection by Chiarelli and his scouts in 2018.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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After an afternoon strolling through Historic Georgetown, come back to the hotel for a quick change and a pre-dinner drink at Eliza’s, the relaxed, open-air waterfront bar at the back of the property.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
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The garden level features a private patio with an outdoor kitchenette, while sliding glass doors connect a relaxed seating area off the home’s secondary kitchen to a rear garden with a mudroom and bike storage.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Meteorologist Adam Krueger has become known as Weather Adam for his shrewd ability to incorporate song lyrics into his energetic weather reports.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
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Earlier this spring, Johnson talked openly about pushing Swift to combine his sharp vision with shrewd discipline.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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As a result of a global economic slowdown, communication agencies are getting savvy in how to marshal their resources.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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Ideally, these tools could be used by savvy consumers to give themselves a little more liquidity while buying big-ticket items within their budget.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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