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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
Layla and Shams have become canny in learning how to survive, but Shams wasn’t able to save their other brother Tareq or her husband, both of whom were killed.
—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Deploying a top-notch slutty house-meets-electro record is one of the canniest moves he’s ever made.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Byron’s a canny, bold, and incisive critic.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Yet in the three episodes HBO provided for review—episodes whose technical elements can be stunning and manipulation of genre conventions canny—Levinson does nothing to deepen his antihero’s search for meaning.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Deploying a top-notch slutty house-meets-electro record is one of the canniest moves he’s ever made.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Byron’s a canny, bold, and incisive critic.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Yet in the three episodes HBO provided for review—episodes whose technical elements can be stunning and manipulation of genre conventions canny—Levinson does nothing to deepen his antihero’s search for meaning.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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Share a smart idea with a neighbor, then turn it into a clear message while your mind stays agile.
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The Knicks could, hypothetically, trade a starter to create space beneath the second apron to re-sign Robinson, but breaking up a starting five that just won a title is not a smart idea.
Adjective
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Air conditioning will be keeping millions of Americans safe and comfortable over the holiday weekend as a heat dome brings dangerous conditions to millions.
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The lightweight, double-layered design offers extra coverage without feeling heavy, while the stretchy waistband and flowy design keep it comfortable all day.
Adjective
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However, astute investors can identify when fear has pushed expectations below a reasonable future outlook.
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They were refined and astute thinkers.
Adjective
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This relaxed pick is incredibly soft, really cute, and surprisingly easy to style.
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The tasting terrace, one of the loveliest places in the region, is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with its relaxed atmosphere and sweeping views of the estate’s vineyards.
Adjective
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Neon proved especially shrewd handling its follow-up, selling McCarthy’s witchy haunted inn as both prestige fare and an accessible vehicle for star Adam Scott.
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Mary — played by Deirdre O’Connell, who has been in a million things, most recently The Penguin and Eddington — is too shrewd to just agree to sell the air rights for whatever price best suits Jimmy & Co.
Adjective
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The bomb-throwing influencer Kat Abughazaleh, 27, won the portions of that district in Chicago’s North Side lakefront neighborhoods, but suburban votes gave savvy Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss the win.
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But are the most savvy shoppers at the car dealership this Fourth of July?
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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