CUNNING Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

cunning

[kuhn-ing]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving; craftiness; guile.
Synonyms: , ,
adeptness in performance; dexterity.
The weaver's hand had not lost its cunning.
Synonyms: ,

adjective

showing or made with ingenuity.
Synonyms: ,
artfully subtle or shrewd; crafty; sly.
Synonyms: , , ,
Informal.��charmingly cute or appealing.
a cunning little baby.
Archaic.��skillful; expert.

verb

Obsolete.��present participle of can.

cunning

/ ˈ��ʌ��ɪŋ /

adjective

crafty and shrewd, esp in deception; sly
cunning as a fox
made with or showing skill or cleverness; ingenious

noun

craftiness, esp in deceiving; slyness
cleverness, skill, or ingenuity

Discover More

Other 51�Թ� Forms

cunningly adverb
cunningness noun
overcunning adjective
overcunningness noun
quasi-cunning adjective
ˈ��ܲԲԾ��Բ��Ա�� noun
ˈ��ܲԲԾ��Բ�� adverb

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cunning¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; (noun) Middle English; Old English cunnung, equivalent to cunn(an) “to know” ( can ¹ ) + -ung -ing ¹; (adjective, verb) Middle English, present participle of cunnan “to know” ( can ¹, -ing ² )

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cunning¹

Old English cunnende; related to cunnan to know (see _can ¹ ), cunnian to test, experience, Old Norse kunna to know

Discover More

Synonym Study

Cunning, artifice, craft imply an inclination toward deceit, slyness, and trickery. Cunning implies a shrewd, often instinctive skill in concealing or disguising the real purposes of one's actions: not intelligence but a low kind of cunning. An artifice is a clever, unscrupulous ruse, used to mislead others: a successful artifice to conceal one's motives. Craft suggests underhand methods and the use of deceptive devices and tricks to attain one's ends: craft and deceitfulness in every act.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But Zephyr is as worldly as Bruce is, meaning that she’s a cunning foil to his long-running string of untraceable serial murders.

From

The prosecution described him as "cunning and resourceful" and said he carried dog biscuits with him.

From

Ethan’s ability to thwart his enemies at every turn through sheer will and cunning is bested only by his unyielding compassion.

From

“Art passes too,” she says, “but a little more slowly, because art is more cunning.”

From

He comes from a mangled life and he’s very cunning and very brutish.

From

cunnilingus Cunningham

Browse