CRAFTY Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'crafty' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of crafty are artful , cunning , foxy , slick , sly , tricky , and wily . While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. // a crafty lefthander

Q: Where would 'artful' be a reasonable alternative to 'crafty'?

The words artful and crafty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness. // elicited the information by artful questioning

Q: When might 'cunning' be a better fit than 'crafty'?

While in some cases nearly identical to crafty , cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing. // the cunning fox avoided the trap

Q: In what contexts can 'foxy' take the place of 'crafty'?

The words foxy and crafty can be used in similar contexts, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. // a foxy publicity man planting stories

Q: When is 'slick' a more appropriate choice than 'crafty'?

While the synonyms slick and crafty are close in meaning, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. // slick operators selling time-sharing

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sly' instead of 'crafty'?

The synonyms sly and crafty are sometimes interchangeable, but sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods. // a sly corporate raider

Q: When can 'tricky' be used instead of 'crafty'?

The meanings of tricky and crafty largely overlap; however, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering. // a tricky political operative

Q: When would 'wily' be a good substitute for 'crafty'?

Although the words wily and crafty have much in common, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. // the wily fugitive escaped the posse

crafty

adjective

ˈkraf-tē

Definition of crafty next

as in cunning

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means a crafty real estate broker who got people to sell their property at bargain prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word crafty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of crafty are artful, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

Where would artful be a reasonable alternative to crafty?

The words artful and crafty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When might cunning be a better fit than crafty?

While in some cases nearly identical to crafty, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

In what contexts can foxy take the place of crafty?

The words foxy and crafty can be used in similar contexts, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than crafty?

While the synonyms slick and crafty are close in meaning, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is it sensible to use sly instead of crafty?

The synonyms sly and crafty are sometimes interchangeable, but sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When can tricky be used instead of crafty?

The meanings of tricky and crafty largely overlap; however, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for crafty?

Although the words wily and crafty have much in common, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 crafty Dressing for the winter means having to account for a crafty and strategic change in approach. —

Julia Guerra, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026 Only seven qualified starters last season featured a fastball with an average velocity lower than Suárez’s, but the crafty lefty secured a $130 million deal that will serve as a referendum on results over stuff in a modern game obsessed with velocity. —

Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 Then, grab a coffee across the street at Perk & Pine, a cozy caffeine hub with some crafty souvenir items. —

Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026 Reduce Food Sources Eliminating entry points should reduce some rodent problems, but mice are crafty and will continue to seek shelter indoors if there are tasty snacks drawing them in. —

Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crafty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crafty

Adjective

His initial rise to fame came from playing cunning and ruthless centuries-old vampire Eric Northman on True Blood.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
They’re built up to be these impossibly deadly and evil and cunning foes, and then our much less impressive heroes manage to take them down through grit and determination or just dumb luck.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Definition of cunning

Browse Nearby Words

craftswomen

crafty

crag

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crafty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crafty. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 1 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of crafty

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on crafty

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

prescience

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

The Words of the Week - Jan. 30

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Popular

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

Games & Quizzes