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
Relevance
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
Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
When Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey entered the courtroom set for Season 3, she was tasked with playing a new version of her usually confident and cunning character– one that was now afraid, powerless, and exceedingly unsure of herself.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
Georgia has emerged one of the more entertaining, cunning and inventive antiheroes of the 2020s.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
When Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey entered the courtroom set for Season 3, she was tasked with playing a new version of her usually confident and cunning character– one that was now afraid, powerless, and exceedingly unsure of herself.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025
Noun
The chief specimen here (played by MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry) is a massive beast whose brute strength is matched by his cunning.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
-
Make lunchtime fun again with the help of a cute and colorful bento box or a fun, interactive lunch box.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
30 July 2025
-
The moment in which Guy and Nan reunite at the courthouse and mirror each other on a staircase and over a railing, respectively, is reminiscent of their meet cute in Season 1.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ride horseback with local gauchos (skilled horsemen) near the quaint towns of Cachi or Cafayate.—
Carola Fresno,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Kansas once had at least one skilled nursing home option in all 105 counties in the state.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Project Runway might've returned with a new roster of designers flexing their fashion skills on the main stage, but one contestant's emotions unspooled in front of the judges when he was placed in the bottom.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Sports captivates communities because achievement in sports—especially team sports—requires more than just talent, effort and skill.—
George Atallah,
Sportico.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
And how could Faas have knowingly perpetrated such deception?—
Gary Knight,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
-
This campaign of deception from Big Oil and the plastics industry underscores why California’s lawsuit against Exxon is so vital.—
Chelsea Linsley,
Mercury News,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Climate change continues to have a profound impact on the Great Lakes region, bringing more extreme weather, declining fish populations, and subtle but profound economic transformation.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
-
The combination adds layers of flavor and a subtle edge, giving the salsa the same flavor profile as a spicy version without any burn.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
18 July 2025
-
But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Opening pages show Toews’ characteristic wit and guile squaring off against extraordinary pain.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
-
Getting to the knockout phase will take guile as much as craft, something the Dutch boast in abundance.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
What begins as a convenient living arrangement spirals into a dangerous game of desire and deceit.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 July 2025
-
But there’s more to the Prime Video series than just murder and deceit, says the actress, whose credits also include The Sinner and 7th Heaven.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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