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

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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 The movie was shot in a remarkably tight 19 days, and while there are echoes of crafty Drag Race resourcefulness in the production design and costumes (Alessandro Marvelli and Salvador Pérez Jr., respectively), Stop! —

David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026 To me, the bass were not as firm as bluegills, not as crafty as crappies, and most definitely not as tasty as a yellow perch. —

Hank Shaw, Outdoor Life, 20 May 2026 Standard encryption relies on math that current computers can't solve, but crafty hackers are playing the waiting game. —

Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 16 May 2026 Bringing his experience of all things William Shakespeare, Branagh also elevates the stakes through the crafty addition of family drama. —

Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for crafty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crafty

Adjective

Dano’s static line delivery gets used for a chilling but laconic effect as his character’s cunning political negotiations lead to deadly outcomes.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2026

Definition of cunning

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“Crafty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crafty. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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