1
as in cute
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skilled
skillful with the hands
only the most cunning cabinetmaker could have crafted such a beautifully proportioned chest of drawers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in slyness
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
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2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the unmatched cunning of the scout who led them safely through the trackless wilderness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
used cunning and subterfuge to lure unwitting victims into the fraudulent scheme
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cunning
Athena Sobhan, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Counties and cattlemen associations throughout Colorado set bounties — as high as $1k ($19k today) for the most cunning wolves.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 31 Jan. 2025
Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Over time, guile took on the connotation of deceitful cunning in English, emerging in Middle English around the 12th century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
Thomas adds that much like Capricorns — known for their great ambition and perseverance to reach the top — Luthor is also strategic, cunning and powerful.
—Athena Sobhan, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Counties and cattlemen associations throughout Colorado set bounties — as high as $1k ($19k today) for the most cunning wolves.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
David slayed the giant with a slingshot; Esther by her cunning saved her people.
—Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Over time, guile took on the connotation of deceitful cunning in English, emerging in Middle English around the 12th century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
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Pair the bottoms with a cute bodysuit or match the top with skirts or shorts, and you're left with multiple outfits in one.—
Jennifer Vermeer,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Feb. 2025
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And the town of Brenham is filled with cute boutiques and restaurants.—
Cynthia Drake,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For highly skilled job seekers, the choice is obvious.—
Sarah Elk,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Truly skilled, effective coaches don’t need to call their players names and berate them for messing up and know that doing so makes players afraid to take risks and be creative, critical parts of being a great soccer player.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Additionally, Apple plans to double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, focusing on advanced manufacturing techniques and skill development nationwide.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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As for the love story at the heart of things, real-life singer-songwriters Koerner and Varga, both making their movie debuts, inhabit their roles with unpolished sincerity, if not technical skill.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Tacopina recently appeared on The Breakfast Club to break down key elements of the defense’s strategy in proving Rocky’s innocence, and the plaintiff’s, A$AP Relli, lies and deception.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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Today the art world is reeling over not just her deception, but also the stain Ms. Schiff has left on the largely unregulated business of art advising.—
Sarah Maslin Nir,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Superyacht designers have begun to navigate the cultural preferences of their clientele by redefining yacht interiors in subtle but significant ways.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
2 Mar. 2025
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These devices are more precise and subtle than old fashioned metal detectors, using specific sensitivity settings and artificial intelligence to detect hidden weapons as opposed to harmless items such as keys and phones, allowing people to enter facilities with very little delay.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His non-fiction book The Onion Field, published in 1973, would stand as, arguably, his literary masterpiece, a skillful telling of the true tale of a 1963 kidnapping of two LAPD officers and the brutal murder of one of them.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
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Hackman tamped down all of his gritty charm to embody a squirrely surveillance expert, again showcasing a skillful adaptability early in his career.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Whatever Van Nistelrooy has seen in training that has left him using the young Argentine so sparingly must be serious because the Brighton loanee is a player with guile and graft.—
Rob Tanner,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
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His characteristics are based on short, neat passes, providing guile to unpick deep-sitting blocks and work in tight areas.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The exposé marked the beginning of the end for Theranos, as multiple whistleblowers came forward with claims of secrets and deceit.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
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Determined to uncover the truth, Min-tae embarks on a relentless pursuit, navigating a web of deceit involving his former crime syndicate and the police.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to cunning
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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