Synonyms for

Sly

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

Definition

having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature

Synonyms & similar words

wily foxy crafty slick tricksy knavish tricky guileful dodgy cunning crafty sneaky devious wily cunning scheming tricky shrewd slyboots artful cagey canny clever furtive ingenious insidious slyish stealthy subtle underhanded

Synonyms by register

Formal

cunning wily devious artful

Informal

shrewd crafty sneaky tricky

Literary

foxy slyboots

Antonyms

honest open frank guileless artless naive straightforward

Common collocations

  • sly smile
  • sly remark
  • sly move
  • sly grin
  • sly fox
  • sly dig
  • sly look

Word family

adjective sly
adverb slyly

Usage note

Often implies a cunning or deceitful nature, typically used to describe someone's actions or expressions rather than their inherent character. It can sometimes carry a slightly playful or admiring tone when referring to cleverness.

Example sentences

  1. The sly cat snuck up on the mouse.
  2. He had a sly grin on his face when he told the joke.
  3. The politician used sly tactics to win the election.
  4. The spy was very sly and hard to catch.
  5. The thief had a sly plan to steal the jewels.

Quotes

  • 'There's a slyness about her that's very appealing: you know that she knows it's all a game, but she's having a good time playing it.' - David Denby
  • 'I'm not sly, just terribly diplomatic.' - Margaret Mitchell
  • 'One of the slyest, most dangerous men I've ever met was a photographer named Bill King.' - David Lee Roth

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