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cunning Synonyms

Another word for cunning

Choosing another word for cunning depends on context, so the 39 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 5 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit, evasion, or underhanded means.

Usage Example

"The fox is often portrayed in folklore as a sly creature that outwits larger animals."

Strongest
sly
crafty
wily
shrewd
Strong
astute
devious
scheming
calculating
foxy
tricky

• noun (Context 2)

Skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving or outwitting others; craftiness.

Usage Example

"The detective relied on patience and guile to uncover the truth behind the financial fraud."

Strongest
guile
craftiness
slyness
shrewdness
Strong
artifice
deviousness
duplicity
trickery
wiles

• adjective (Context 3)

Ingenious, inventive, or exhibiting great skill and dexterity.

Usage Example

"The carpenter designed a ingenious mechanism that concealed a secret drawer inside the desk."

Strongest
ingenious
clever
skillful
Strong
adroit
deft
resourceful
inventive
dexterous

• noun (Context 4)

Dexterity, adroitness, or practical skill in execution.

Usage Example

"The master violinist played the complex concerto with all his usual ingenuity and grace."

Strongest
ingenuity
dexterity
Strong
skill
adroitness
deftness
cleverness

• adjective (Context 5)

Attractive, quaint, or appealingly cute.

Usage Example

"The toddler looked quite cute in her miniature winter coat and matching boots."

Strongest
cute
charming
Strong
endearing
adorable
pretty
quaint

Opposites of cunning

The opposite of cunning shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

naive
naivety
gullible
gullibility
clumsy
artless
ugly
guileless
See all opposites of cunning

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Cunning. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/cunning
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