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

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

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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 But when a succession of murders threatens to undermine his leadership, Murashige turns to his crafty hostage for help. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 When the Knicks won the NBA Finals, brands rolled up their sleeves and got crafty. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 July 2026 Meaning, Keegan is familiar with this place, is hitting the ball well lately, and his crafty short-game could be useful given the renovations to the Detroit Golf Club’s greens. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Attendees can also test their local knowledge with Valley Trivia, get crafty, and visit the Museum Mystic Tarot Card Reader. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crafty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crafty

Adjective

Sing, muse, of the cunning Christopher Nolan, who has once again achieved the impossible.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026
In the classic tradition, this bit of strategic genius is the ultimate proof of Odysseus’s mētis, or cunning intelligence.

— Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

Koumas, who returned to Liverpool this summer after helping Hull City win promotion to the Premier League, was heavily involved in Szoboszlai’s goal as his neat turn and slick link-up play with Kerkez created the opening.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Yeah, how about a slick Michigan move tally that comes to us courtesy of Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of slick

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craftswomen

crafty

crag

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

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Synonyms of crafty

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