Cunning
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkʌnɪŋ/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Cunning is an adjective meaning Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
Meaning
Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
More Meanings
- (Maine, colloquial, dated) Cute, appealing.
- Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
- Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit; art or magic.
- The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
- The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
- (obsolete) Skillful, artful.
- (obsolete) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
Example Sentences
cunning work
a cunning workman
Esau was a cunning hunter.
Over them Arachne high did lift / Her cunning web.
Word Forms
- cunnings
Synonyms for cunning
Depending on context, synonyms include craftiness, foxship, list, abet, art, beguilement.
Antonyms for cunning
Common opposites include artlessness, bluntness, candor, honesty, innocence, simplicity.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include sly, craftiness, wily, slyness, tricksy, wiliness.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.