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cunning

/ˈkʌnɪŋ/noun, adjective2 syllables

Cunning means: marked by skill in deception.

Synonyms for cunning30

noun, as in shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

craft, craftiness, foxiness, guile, slyness, wiliness

adjective, as in marked by skill in deception

crafty, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy, tricky, wily, artful

adjective, as in showing inventiveness and skill

clever, ingenious, adroit

adjective, as in attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

also used for cunning

foxship, list, abet, art, beguilement, dodge, subtlety, wile

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does cunning mean?5

adjective

1

marked by skill in deception“cunning men often pass for wise”

2

showing inventiveness and skill“a clever gadget”

3

attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness“a cute kid with pigtails”

noun

1

shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

2

crafty artfulness (especially in deception)

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with cunning?3

two syllables

Show 40 near rhymes

Cunning in a sentence

  • He's as strong as an ox, and as cunning as a fox.sundown
  • The bear is not only a clever and cunning animal, but also extremely nimble.frpzzd
  • He had faith in his cunning, and was certain he'd find the bird.Luornu
  • It is said that the fox is more cunning than any other animal.CM
  • People say that the fox is more cunning than other animals.FeuDRenais2
  • Weasels have a reputation for being elusive and cunning.Ooneykcall
  • The politician's cunning was known even to his voters.Myrano_
  • Sami devised a cunning plan to cover his tracks.OsoHombre

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of cunning

as a noun

plural
cunnings