CUNNING Synonyms: 317 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

cunning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkə-niŋ

Definition of cunning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

cunning

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Booboo Stewart’s Jay was brought up to be a cunning thief, just like his father Jafar. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Hathaway, in her third collaboration with Nolan, is cunning but weary, while Pattinson is just a fantastic creep. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Noun

That’s a 79 percent increase over the past five years, a testament to the ingenuity and cunning of hackers and the proliferation of vulnerabilities and ways into an organization’s network. — Daniel Fusch, IndyStar, 18 June 2026 Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 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. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cunning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning

Adjective

There’s the slick, glad-handing publisher of Hamptons magazine, and the feisty Citarella market scion who would love to have her picture featured in its pages.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
When shoppers lose their traction on slick, unforgiving floors, severe bruising, fractured wrists, spinal pain, and concussions are common results.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of slick

Adjective

Analyzing a potential legal challenge The prospect of a trans woman who is skilled enough at basketball to play in the WNBA and who seeks employment in the WNBA is uncertain and, for now, speculative.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026
PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer found that AI-skilled workers earned a 56% average wage premium in 2024 and that required skills are changing 66% faster in roles most exposed to AI.

— Daniel Gumucio, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of skilled

Noun

There appears to be no indication the scammer or scammers behind this web of deception are anywhere close to slowing down.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
But Richard Adams Locke, who wrote the series, later claimed that deception wasn’t his goal.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of deception

Adjective

Her lyrics, like those of many of her biggest musical influences, are dense texts, full of winking allusions and subtle references to records, bands, and albums that have shaped her own songwriting.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Izquierdo recommends asking for softly disconnected layers, a blended curtain fringe, and soft, subtle texture.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of subtle

Adjective

Rogers is a skillful campaigner who might continue to capitalize on this strategy.

— Michael Traugott, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026
What is not explicit on screen or in the financial results is the intense amount of skillful work, preparation, promotion, production, marketing, and ad sales that goes on behind the scenes.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of skillful

Noun

Slight, lightning quick and with mesmerizing ballhanding, Iverson attacked defenses on the perimeter and in the paint with equal parts of fearlessness and relentlessness, guile and gumption.

— Rob Peterson, New York Times, 26 July 2026
In some ways, that depends on whether the agent eventually learns guile, and social gamesmanship, or not.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of guile

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cumulus

cunning

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“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cunning

adjective

noun

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