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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cunning
EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
This cunning predator is a nocturnal sheet web spider, Psechrus clavis, which captures fireflies as prey.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.
—EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
This cunning predator is a nocturnal sheet web spider, Psechrus clavis, which captures fireflies as prey.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Played by Austin Abrams with the wiry desperation and cunning of an addict, James is an unhoused junkie living in a tent in the woods, who has a nasty brush with Paul.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
-
Start with something easy, like a fridge magnet, tiny illustration, or cute DIY bookmark.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Sep. 2025
-
In the song, JJ and his friends dress up in doctor, pirate, and more cute costumes.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Benak, an undersized but skilled rookie, skated more than 16 minutes versus Winnipeg on Sunday.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Sep. 2025
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Major tech firms, for example, famously rely on H-1B visas to fill highly skilled roles with personnel recruited from India and China, among other countries.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ay, the superb slyness of that last response!—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The stories shared about Beard after his death focused as much on his qualities as a friend as on his skill as a football coach and his efforts to stand by and grow the women’s game.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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Good social skills are becoming more and more important in today’s world, and those skills grow from connection and emotional safety.—
Reem Raouda,
CNBC,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But there’s some deception at play.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Stories of similar scenes are sweeping Puerto Rico—raids without court orders, marked by deception and racial profiling, often regardless of legal status.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The subtle side snap buttons leading down to the slit provide detail without being distracting, and the pointelle knit offers enough stretch and texture to hug your curves in all the right places.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
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Chisholm took a subtle shot at the Marlins, noting what was holding him back.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Nani was an exciting, skillful winger, and in the early part of his career in England, a one-time housemate of storied compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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The animation is flawless and the voice cast, including Dom DeLuise and Derek Jacobi, is note-perfect, but NIMH is most notable for its skillful blend of adventure yarn and emotional family drama, a combination rendered with expert care.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Creativity was sorely lacking last season, with the side mustering the lowest xG of any side to avoid relegation, but now an attacking midfield trident of Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye brims with promise and guile.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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