cunning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkə-niŋ How to pronounce cunning (audio)
Definition of cunningnext
1
as in deceptive
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

cunning

2 of 2

noun

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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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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cunning distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of cunning are artful, crafty, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

In what contexts can artful take the place of cunning?

While in some cases nearly identical to cunning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

Where would crafty be a reasonable alternative to cunning?

The synonyms crafty and cunning are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of cunning?

The words foxy and cunning 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 could slick be used to replace cunning?

In some situations, the words slick and cunning are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When would sly be a good substitute for cunning?

Although the words sly and cunning have much in common, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When might tricky be a better fit than cunning?

While the synonyms tricky and cunning are close in meaning, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can wily be used instead of cunning?

The meanings of wily and cunning largely overlap; however, 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 cunning
Adjective
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse. —Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026 In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country. —Neringa Klumbytė, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
Holding viewers by the throat for a handful of strong beats, even as the script slips through the entire cast’s fingers, the devilish actor sells Besson’s interpretation on charisma and cunning. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026 BlueAugury’s sort may have evolved the cunning to outwit and evade even the brainiest vertebrates; but from oneselves there’s no escape. —Mandy-Suzanne Wong, Longreads, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
  1. deceptive
  2. skilled
  3. slyness
  4. skill
  5. deception
  6. crafty
  7. skillful
  8. guile
Adjective
  • The Request for Investigation, shared exclusively with Fortune ahead of its public filing on Wednesday, alleges that Roblox is violating Section 5 of the FTC Act through unfair and deceptive practices.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 May 2026
  • That fueled the storyline that Valerie would be the only person actually working on the show who knows the scripts are being written by AI, reflecting how careful, and in some cases, downright deceptive, those in Hollywood are in revealing their use of AI.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • The strongest properties employ skilled, adaptive practitioners who adjust to the guest in front of them rather than march through a rigid itinerary — wellness, the experts argue, should feel intuitive rather than prescriptive.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
  • Jobs requiring technically skilled professionals also tend to offer greater stability than many other roles due to high demand for specialized expertise, according to research from LiveCareer.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Definition of skilled
Noun
  • The harp is not an instrument of slyness, wryness, or the earth.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of slyness
Noun
  • But that trauma has passed, allowing Reilly to show off her riding skills in the new series.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • Soon after my arrival, our experienced local guide Jorge rolled out the big map and planned the perfect itinerary for our short stay, catering to our preferences and skill level.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Definition of skill
Noun
  • Widespread deception was rampant, with businesses spending far more on green marketing than on actual sustainability improvements.
    — Suvrat Dhanorkar, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
  • That, along with the angle of his arm—his arm slot, in baseball terms—adds another layer of deception.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Definition of deception
Adjective
  • Hotel at home Get the look of Crafted at Powdermill’s interiors with bold prints, crafty ceramics, and coffee-table books aplenty.
    — Bridget Mills-Powell, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
  • All that crafty seeding has paid off.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Definition of crafty
Adjective
  • This country has produced leaders who understood that the office was never about them, that service means something, and that the people watching from home deserve better than a system that rewards the skillful exit over the honest reckoning.
    — Nick Weston, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • Miami coach Mario Cristobal is known for his skillful recruiting of top prospects.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of skillful
Noun
  • The high stakes and the frenzied crowds annually inspire hockey players who can handle them to ever-higher levels of grit, guile and greatness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 May 2026
  • The label cut its teeth with 12 inches and compilations but The Black Dog produced [one] album of breath-taking technical guile.
    — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 1 May 2026
Definition of guile

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cumulus
cunning
cunningly
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Cite this Entry

“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of cunning for Spanish Speakers

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