1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inventive
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 artful
The dishes are artful, visually stunning and playful.
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Dec. 2025
The artful look, originally created by late hairstylist Jesus Guerrero and maintained by hairstylist Evanie Frausto, involved meticulous free-hand bleaching around the crown of the Lux artist’s head.
—Rachel Krause, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
Top 5 Can’t Miss For an artful stay, book a room at Atelier Inès Art & Suites.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
But no one’s defense of Dano has been quite as artful and poetic as Woods’s ad hominem eviscerations of Tarantino.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for artful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful
Adjective
-
Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
-
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Adjective
-
Some lean into local sourcing, others spotlight inventive beverage programs or embrace dietary inclusivity.—
-
With an inventive concept inspired by the Dutch series De Verraders and a superbly dressed host, The Traitors is a murder mystery game show par excellence.—
Adjective
-
Six points clear of Manchester City and Villa, Arsenal can boast form and — for the first time in a while — fitness, with Declan Rice marking his return to the lineup with a virtuoso two-goal display against Bournemouth.—
-
That was a virtuoso performance.—
Adjective
-
Ariana Grande made a cute face while taking a pic with Steven Spielberg.—
-
Jump on the trend early with this cute, hands-free Michael Kors crossbody bag.—
Adjective
-
Each clever accessory is under $15 — that’s less than the cost of a sandwich special at my favorite deli.—
-
With two bedrooms and two baths, the home is surprisingly expansive, boasting just under 2,400 square feet across its clever layout.—
Adjective
-
The 5-11, 187-pound receiver is skillful at running routes and can create separation with his quick feet.—
-
Mackey does especially skillful work conveying the legibility of Ella’s personal anxiety and political passion.—
Adjective
-
With her signature long waves gathered into a subtle bun at the nape of her neck, this style puts the focus on the sculptural wave framing Seyfried's face opposite a deep side part.—
-
Grande wore a glossy pink shade on her lips, sculpted cheeks with subtle shimmer, and long lashes.—
Adjective
-
Based on the Qiushi article, the government is expected to implement more innovative and targeted measures, Michelle Kwok, HSBC’s head of Asia real estate and Hong Kong equity research, wrote in a report Thursday.—
-
At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work.—
Cite this Entry
“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share