cunning as a noun: - 1
- 2
as an adjective: - 1
- 2
- 3
cunning
noun
1 cunning
Shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception.
synonyms: craft, craftiness, foxiness, guile, slyness, wiliness.
Roget 498:
intelligence,
capacity,
comprehension,
understanding;
cuteness,
sabe [U.S.],
savvy [U.S.];
intellect
etc.
450;
nous [Fr.],
parts,
sagacity,
mother wit,
wit,
esprit,
gumption,
quick parts,
grasp of intellect;
acuteness
etc.
adj.;
acumen,
subtlety,
penetration,
perspicacy†,
perspicacity;
discernment,
due sense of,
good judgment;
discrimination
etc.
465;
cunning
etc.
702;
refinement
etc.
(taste)
850.
head,
brains,
headpiece,
upper story,
long head;
eagle eye,
eagle-glance;
eye of a lynx,
eye of a hawk.
wisdom,
sapience,
sense;
good sense,
common sense,
horse sense [U.S.],
plain sense;
rationality,
reason;
reasonableness
etc.
adj.;
judgment;
solidity,
depth,
profundity,
caliber;
enlarged views;
reach of thought,
compass of thought;
enlargement of mind.
genius,
inspiration,
geist [G.],
fire of genius,
heaven-born genius,
soul;
talent
etc.
(aptitude)
698.
[Wisdom in action]
prudence
etc.
864;
vigilance
etc.
459;
tact
etc.
698;
foresight
etc.
510;
sobriety,
self-possession,
aplomb,
ballast.
a bright thought,
not a bad idea.
Solomon-like wisdom.
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Roget 702:
cunning,
craft;
cunningness†,
craftiness
etc.
adj.;
subtlety,
artificiality;
maneuvering
etc.
v.;
temporization;
circumvention.
chicane,
chicanery;
sharp practice,
knavery,
jugglery†;
concealment
etc.
528;
guile,
doubling,
duplicity
etc.
(falsehood)
544;
foul play.
diplomacy,
politics;
Machiavelism;
jobbery,
backstairs influence.
art,
artifice;
device,
machination;
plot
etc.
(plan)
626;
maneuver,
stratagem,
dodge,
sidestep,
artful dodge,
wile;
trick,
trickery
etc.
(deception)
545;
ruse,
ruse de guerre [Fr.];
finesse,
side blow,
thin end of the wedge,
shift,
go by,
subterfuge,
evasion;
white lie
etc.
(untruth)
546;
juggle,
tour de force;
tricks of the trade,
tricks upon travelers;
espieglerie [Fr.];
net,
trap
etc.
545.
Ulysses,
Machiavel,
sly boots,
fox,
reynard;
Scotchman;
Jew,
Yankee;
intriguer,
intrigant†;
floater [U.S.],
Indian giver [U.S.],
keener [U.S.],
repeater [U.S.].
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Dutch: slinksheid
2 cunning
Crafty artfulness (especially in deception).
Polish: cwaność, spryt, chytrość, cwaniactwo, przebiegłość
adjective
1 cunning
2 cunning
Marked by skill in deception:
— Cunning men often pass for wise.
synonyms: crafty, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy, tricky, wily.
Roget 545:
deceived
etc.
v.;
deceiving
&c.;
cunning
etc.
702;
prestigious†,
prestigiatory†;
deceptive,
deceptious†;
deceitful,
covinous†;
delusive,
delusory;
illusive,
illusory;
elusive,
insidious,
ad captandum vulgus [Lat.].
untrue
etc.
546;
mock,
sham,
make-believe,
counterfeit,
snide [Slang],
pseudo,
spurious,
supposititious,
so-called,
pretended,
feigned,
trumped up,
bogus,
scamped,
fraudulent,
tricky,
factitious bastard;
surreptitious,
illegitimate,
contraband,
adulterated,
sophisticated;
unsound,
rotten at the core;
colorable;
disguised;
meretricious,
tinsel,
pinchbeck,
plated;
catchpenny;
Brummagem.
artificial,
synthetic,
ersatz [G.];
simulated
etc.
544.
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Roget 702:
cunning,
crafty,
artful;
skillful
etc.
698;
subtle,
feline,
vulpine;
cunning as a fox,
cunning as a serpent;
deep,
deep laid;
profound;
designing,
contriving;
intriguing
etc.
v.;
strategic,
diplomatic,
politic,
Machiavelian,
timeserving†;
artificial;
tricky,
tricksy†;
wily,
sly,
slim,
insidious,
stealthy;
underhand
etc.
(hidden)
528;
subdolous†;
deceitful
etc.
545;
slippery as an eel,
evasive
etc.
623;
crooked;
arch,
pawky†,
shrewd,
acute;
sharp,
sharp as a tack,
sharp as a needle†;
canny,
astute,
leery,
knowing,
up to snuff,
too clever by half,
not to be caught with chaff.
tactful,
diplomatic,
politic;
polite
etc.
894.
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Polish: podstępny
3 cunning
Showing inventiveness and skill:
— The cunning maneuvers leading to his success.
synonyms: clever, ingenious.
Roget 698:
skillful,
dexterous,
adroit,
expert,
apt,
handy,
quick,
deft,
ready,
gain;
slick,
smart
etc.
(active)
682;
proficient,
good at,
up to,
at home in,
master of,
a good hand at,
au fait,
thoroughbred,
masterly,
crack,
accomplished;
conversant
etc.
(knowing)
490.
experienced,
practiced,
skilled,
hackneyed;
up in,
well up in;
in practice,
in proper cue;
competent,
efficient,
qualified,
capable,
fitted,
fit for,
up to the mark,
trained,
initiated,
prepared,
primed,
finished.
clever,
cute,
able,
ingenious,
felicitous,
gifted,
talented,
endowed;
inventive
etc.
515;
shrewd,
sharp,
on the ball
etc.
(intelligent)
498;
cunning
etc.
702;
alive to,
up to snuff,
not to be caught with chaff;
discreet.
neat-handed,
fine-fingered,
nimble-fingered,
ambidextrous,
sure-footed;
cut out for,
fitted for.
technical,
artistic,
scientific,
daedalian†,
shipshape;
workman-like,
business-like,
statesman-like.
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Polish: praktyczny, sprytny
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