artful

adjective

ˈärt-fəl How to pronounce artful (audio)
Definition of artfulnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word artful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of artful are crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When might crafty be a better fit than artful?

The meanings of crafty and artful largely overlap; however, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace artful?

Although the words cunning and artful have much in common, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

Where would foxy be a reasonable alternative to artful?

The words foxy and artful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

In what contexts can slick take the place of artful?

The words slick and artful can be used in similar contexts, but slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When would sly be a good substitute for artful?

In some situations, the words sly and artful are roughly equivalent. However, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

When is it sensible to use tricky instead of artful?

While in some cases nearly identical to artful, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can wily be used instead of artful?

While the synonyms wily and artful are close in meaning, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 Beyond their fierce loyalty to competing luxury brands, Lawrence's artsy aesthetic favors breezy fabrics and eclectic accessories, while Stewart is a fan of structured suiting, daring haircuts, and an artful mix of masculine and feminine silhouettes. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 May 2025 Since 2018, Sandeep Salter has been the creative visionary behind Salter House, an artful Brooklyn outpost that features sustainable housewares, clothing and a cafe. —Ilana Kaplan, New York Times, 17 May 2025 This trendy city is home to a vibrant array of Japanese dining options, from sizzling yakiniku and creamy uni udon to artful omakase. —Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 But this artful, narrative-deep era of Galliano for Dior? —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for artful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artful
  1. cunning
  2. inventive
  3. cute
  4. clever
  5. skillful
  6. subtle
  7. innovative
  8. artistic
Adjective
  • Hawkins knows exactly how to play Laura’s cheery psychopathy and cunning cruelties, and Wong, in her first film role, gives Piper a spirited independence.
    — Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Rigg’s voice is sharp and engrossing, her characters cunning but affable.
    — Isle McElroy, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Our public spaces will be programmed by some of the most inventive and creative teams in experiential streetscapes.
    — Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Her latest release, February’s Net Work EP, features four inventive and frequently hard-hitting productions that feature collaborators including Lunice, Machinedrum and Sam Binga.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 30 May 2025
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • The knotted fabric straps have an elevated look, making these cute enough to wear with your favorite sundresses and skirts.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2025
  • Shows can only be so cute or funny or familiar or fresh.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Charlie Davis Season: 46 Placed: 2nd If Q was the hurricane blowing through Survivor 46, Davis was a source of calm geniality at the center, constantly quoting Taylor Swift songs while obscuring his careful, clever gameplay.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Time, 29 May 2025
  • The 76 gasoline brand, after all, evokes the patriotism of 1776 — a clever marketing ploy.
    — Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • Several would require the skillful balancing of adverse political interests, including labor unions, real estate companies and pro-tenant groups.
    — Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, 1 June 2025
  • In short, this is about being emotionally skillful and multifaceted.
    — Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Definition of skillful
Adjective
  • The family secrets were subtle but pervasive, reverberating not just through this nuclear family, but also across generations.
    — Susan Walter June 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
  • Your new album, Faith, is a lot subtler than your debut, Signs.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Mat Franco – Season 9 Mat Franco made history by becoming the first magician to win the competition, thrilling audiences with his innovative sleight-of-hand tricks and engaging storytelling.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 27 May 2025
  • Achieve flawless curls or a pin-straight blowout with the innovative tool.
    — Náosha Gregg, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of innovative
Adjective
  • Alongside a summer animation residency, the BFA and MFA in experimental animation focus on developing personal aesthetics, while the BFA in character animation focuses on artistic and technical training in traditional and CGI animation, including sound effects.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
  • Sanlorenzo Arts–a creative hub dedicated to the artistic and cultural initiatives of luxury yacht pioneers Sanlorenzo–has been unveiled in Venice during the inaugural Venice Climate Week (3-8 June, 2025), as the lagoon city presents la Biennale di Architettura.
    — Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of artistic

Browse Nearby Words

artery
artful
artfully
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Cite this Entry

“Artful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artful. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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