51Թ

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View synonyms for

canny

[kan-ee]

adjective

cannier, canniest 
  1. careful; cautious; prudent.

    a canny reply.

  2. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious.

    a canny negotiator.

  3. skilled; expert.

  4. frugal; thrifty.

    a canny housewife.

  5. Scot.

    1. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).

    2. gentle; careful; steady.

    3. snug; cozy; comfortable.

    4. pleasing; attractive.

    5. Archaic.having supernatural or occult powers.



adverb

  1. in a canny manner.

  2. Scot.carefully; cautiously.

canny

/ ˈæɪ /

adjective

  1. shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing

  2. dialectgood or nice: used as a general term of approval

  3. lucky or fortunate

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. dialectquite; rather

    a canny long while

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • canniness noun
  • overcanny adjective
  • ˈԲԾ adverb
  • ˈԲԾԱ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of canny1

First recorded in 1580–90; can 1 + -y 1
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of canny1

C16: from can 1 (in the sense: to know how) + -y 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Dance has simply given Eve a canny sense of timing that allows her to hand someone a grenade and duck before it explodes.

From

Elinor and her posse deserve more fulfilling lives, and with the help of canny Madame Restell, they manage to make their dreams come true on their own terms.

From

She argues Reeves is canny and it is her values that make her Labour.

From

He was always a canny businessman with an eye for a deal.

From

What each of us sees when we look at him — a dangerous whipsaw of insane rhetoric and diabolic intent or a canny businessman who just wants what’s best for Americans — increasingly defines us.

From

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cannulateCanoas