Synonyms for

Cunning

Verb / ˈkʌnɪŋ / Another word for cunning — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion

Synonyms & similar words

guile knavish foxiness crafty craft sly clever ingenious slyness tricksy dodgy guileful wily craftiness cute tricky wiliness slick foxy crafty sly wily devious tricky shrewd artful clever scheming canny guileful astute cunning calculating cagey duplicitous foxy sneaky slippery stealthy

Synonyms by register

Formal

devious astute shrewd artful

Informal

sly wily crafty clever

Literary

foxy guileful insidious

Antonyms

naive honest straightforward artless guileless simple unsuspecting

Common collocations

  • cunning plan
  • cunning device
  • cunning mind
  • cunning trick
  • cunning smile
  • cunning fox
  • cunning strategy

Word family

noun cunning
adjective cunning
adverb cunningly

Usage note

Cunning often implies a cleverness used for deceitful or selfish purposes, carrying a negative connotation. It is distinct from simple intelligence or cleverness.

Example sentences

  1. The cunning cat caught the mouse with ease.
  2. The thief was cunning enough to evade the police.
  3. She used her cunning to convince her parents to let her stay up late.
  4. The politician's cunning speech convinced many people to vote for him.
  5. The cunning fox outsmarted the hunter.

Quotes

  • A cunning man overreaches no one half as much as himself.
  • Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering other people's weaknesses.
  • Cunning is the art of getting what we want by deceiving others.

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