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
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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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cunning
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
These subsidies were cunning, part of a decades-long effort to keep alive the myths that offshore wind energy is nearly self-sufficient and generates increasingly inexpensive electricity.
—Craig Rucker, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
John Seabrook, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
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.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
Maigret must outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals, while dealing with his own troubled past.
—Noun
Federico Marchetti, the Italian fashion entrepreneur, is a master of sprezzatura—the courtier’s art of cloaking ambition and cunning in an air of guileless nonchalance.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
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Ariana Grande made a cute face while taking a pic with Steven Spielberg.—
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Jump on the trend early with this cute, hands-free Michael Kors crossbody bag.—
Adjective
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Collaborating with industry leaders, academic institutions and others to ensure Iowa develops a skilled workforce for the growing nuclear energy sector.—
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The only problem is that Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin aren’t skilled at throwing passes or blocking defensive linemen.—
Noun
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Ay, the superb slyness of that last response!—
Noun
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Investopedia defines it as a job done outside the office, typically requiring manual labor or skills in a particular trade.—
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Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Activity Table Foster your little one’s motor skills with this activity table that allows babies ages 6 months and up to flip, slide, roll, spin, and press the buttons, wheels, and lights.—
Noun
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McCoy is charged with theft by deception, violation of oath of office, and three counts of false statements and writings.—
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Harper got fired for the aforementioned deception.—
Adjective
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The slick material keeps chafing to a minimum during workouts, and the brushed inside is so soft against the skin and helps keep cold air out and your body heat in.—
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Between the melting ice under the court and heavy rain Thursday night in Chicago, condensation created a slick and dangerous playing surface.—
Adjective
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The 5-11, 187-pound receiver is skillful at running routes and can create separation with his quick feet.—
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Mackey does especially skillful work conveying the legibility of Ella’s personal anxiety and political passion.—
Noun
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There’s so little fluency, spark or guile.—
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In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.—
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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