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cun·ning
 cunning
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- pronunciation:
- kuh
nIng
- parts of speech:
- adjective, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, noun)
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
adept at subtle or deceptive planning or action; crafty; shrewd.
He was a cunning man who was determined to have sole influence over the president.Cunning and manipulative, he always found a way to get what he desired.- synonyms:
- artful, crafty, foxy, shrewd, wily
- antonyms:
- honest, simple
- similar words:
- calculating, captious, deceitful, fraudulent, guileful, insidious, resourceful, slick, sly, smart, subtle, tricky
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| definition 2: |
done with skill, dexterity, or ingenuity.
He congratulated himself on his cunning scheme.- synonyms:
- artful, clever, dexterous, ingenious, skillful
- antonyms:
- half-baked, ill-conceived, lame, shoddy, sloppy
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| related words: |
ingenious, knowing, scheming, sharp, shifty, two-faced |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
subtle or deceptive planning or action; craftiness; shrewdness.
The prisoner used all his cunning in planning his escape.The plot required a great deal of nerve and cunning.- synonyms:
- artfulness, craftiness, foxiness, shrewdness
- similar words:
- craft, deceit, duplicity, guile, subtlety, trickery
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| definition 2: |
skill, dexterity, or ingenuity.
We admired the cunning with which the gadget was put together.- synonyms:
- adeptness, dexterity, ingenuity, skill
- similar words:
- address, artifice
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| related words: |
chicanery, intrigue, wit |
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| derivations: |
cunningly (adv.), cunningness (n.) |
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