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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
But while people born in the year of the snake are seen as charismatic, intelligent and artistic, they are also often considered cunning and mysterious.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
There’s an unapologetic cunning at the heart of this series, and a mercurial spirit that’s as slippery as blood on an Italian marble floor.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
An epic poem from Homer, the original literary classic explored themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will, featuring stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, culminating in a reunion with his wife Penelope.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
But while people born in the year of the snake are seen as charismatic, intelligent and artistic, they are also often considered cunning and mysterious.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
Gilded by privilege and cunning, Glinda is a popular young woman who desires to wield magic.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
There’s an unapologetic cunning at the heart of this series, and a mercurial spirit that’s as slippery as blood on an Italian marble floor.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
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Snake Bird Vintage has a fantastic array of clothing and accessories in a cute repurposed garage.—
Kara Franker,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
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His grousing is interrupted by some very cute uncle moments with Maria and Tommy’s son, Benji, then Joel takes off just as Tommy gets back.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This three-hour experience is led by a skilled guide who will keep you safe, take photographs, and give you detailed information about the bridge and surrounding areas along the way.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On Via Montenapoleone, the store’s façade features arched windows crafted by skilled Murano glassmaker Venini.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In each episode, the friends bring those skills together to overcome a new challenge as a team.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
14 Apr. 2025
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This translates into Jan having to collaborate with many versions of himself that have unique skills and far too many conflicting personalities defined by past events.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In another case, Balmer pleaded guilty in 2016 to forgery and theft by deception charges, court documents show.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
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Imposter syndrome is an internal struggle with feeling like a fraud despite being qualified, whereas career catfishing is an active deception.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The game is a fun but challenging exercise for your brain which asks players to group words based on subtle and sometimes tricky connections, which tests your logic and language skills.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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Mulaney’s approach to social commentary on his show is even more subtle; sometimes, concentrating a sketch on a character like Willy Loman is enough.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Hiring managers must learn to distinguish between misuse and skillful application to capture a candidate’s ability to tackle real-world challenges.—
Bing Yu Yap,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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He is known for his skillful wedge game and a booming drive, but at Memorial Park, his whole game coalesced perfectly.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But here, Gyllenhaal mesmerizes in a career-best performance that taps into the infinite well of his talent, portraying Iago’s scorching resentment, guile and humor.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
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All of which is to say, Cooper is very good at playing someone adept at persuasion, either through intimidation or guile.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The deceit and deception is positively intoxicating to this longtime reality competition fan.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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The campaign registers domains that are close enough to legitimate websites to trick users into clicking, or at least to stop them flagging the deceit.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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