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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cunning
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 May 2025
The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 July 2025
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
But Waltz also advocated for further diplomatically isolating President Vladimir Putin — a position that was out of step with Trump, who has viewed the Russian leader, at moments, with admiration for his cunning in dealings with Trump’s predecessors.
—Matthew Lee, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Adjective
The story follows a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owners and take over the farm, only to face new challenges under the rule of a cunning pig named Napoleon (Rogen).
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 May 2025
The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 July 2025
Noun
On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
But Waltz also advocated for further diplomatically isolating President Vladimir Putin — a position that was out of step with Trump, who has viewed the Russian leader, at moments, with admiration for his cunning in dealings with Trump’s predecessors.
—Matthew Lee, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cunning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cunning
Adjective
-
Because linen pants are comfortable and cute, the options are endless.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 July 2025
-
Fortunately, Amazon is having a massive sale on cute linen clothes, and prices start at just $20.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Many of these apprentices were not skilled tradesmen.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
-
The same is true of pickleball, where a skilled player with the right paddle can cause problems for an opponent.—
Martin Cizmar,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
As this technology improves, the gap between human skill and robotic precision will continue to shrink.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 July 2025
-
But Williams didn’t set a high enough bar in her only skills challenge round.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Last summer, an exponentially growing audience of fans watched her fall head-over-heels for Brit Aaron Evans, only to be left heartbroken over his deception and sobbing to an entirely too appropriate Sabrina Carpenter song chosen by the show's editors.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
Finding The Right Balance The cost of workplace deception is more than just a nasty surprise come employee feedback day.—
Dmitry Malin,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Climate change continues to have a profound impact on the Great Lakes region, bringing more extreme weather, declining fish populations, and subtle but profound economic transformation.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
-
Interplay of rough and polished diamonds continued, with a wide range of hues from white to subtle greens and browns, and the use of materials such as natural jet and grand-feu enamel.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
18 July 2025
-
But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Opening pages show Toews’ characteristic wit and guile squaring off against extraordinary pain.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
-
Getting to the knockout phase will take guile as much as craft, something the Dutch boast in abundance.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
In the 21st century, varying degrees of financial deceit — from the Enron accounting scandal to the devastating consequences of massive Ponzi schemes like the one run by Bernie Madoff — continue to impact people across the country.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
-
Every fraudulent claim becomes part of the data used to set next year’s rates, creating a feedback loop where today’s deceit has the potential to become tomorrow’s financial burden.—
Paulina Wierzbicka,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cunning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cunning. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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