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CUNNING

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does cunning mean?

• CUNNING (noun)
The noun CUNNING has 2 senses:

1. shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
2. crafty artfulness (especially in deception)

Familiarity information: CUNNING used as a noun is rare.

• CUNNING (adjective)
The adjective CUNNING has 3 senses:

1. attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
2. marked by skill in deception
3. showing inventiveness and skill

Familiarity information: CUNNING used as an adjective is uncommon.

Dictionary entry details

• CUNNING (noun)

Sense 1

cunning ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

craftiness; cunning; foxiness; guile; slyness; wiliness; craft

Hypernyms ("cunning" is a kind of...):

astuteness; perspicaciousness; perspicacity; shrewdness (intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings))

Sense 2

cunning ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Crafty artfulness (especially in deception)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("cunning" is a kind of...):

artfulness (the quality of being adroit in taking unfair advantage)

• CUNNING (adjective)

Sense 1

cunning ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

Synonyms:

cunning; cute

Context examples:

a cute kid with pigtails / a cute little apartment / cunning kittens / a cunning baby

Similar:

attractive (pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm)

Sense 2

cunning ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Marked by skill in deception

Synonyms:

crafty; wily; tricksy; foxy; guileful; knavish; sly; dodgy; cunning; tricky; slick

Context examples:

cunning men often pass for wise / deep political machinations / a foxy scheme / a slick evasive answer / sly as a fox / tricky Dick / a wily old attorney

Similar:

artful (marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft)

Sense 3

cunning ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Showing inventiveness and skill

Synonyms:

ingenious; cunning; clever

Context examples:

a clever gadget / the cunning maneuvers leading to his success / an ingenious solution to the problem

Similar:

adroit (quick or skillful or adept in action or thought)

Learn English with... Proverbs of the week

"A fox smells its own stink first." (English proverb)

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"The word goes out but the message is lost." (Corsican proverb)

CUNNING: related words searches

» artfulness meaning
» What does perspicacity mean?
» adroit: pronunciation in phonetic transcription
» Definition of artful
» shrewdness: pronunciation in phonetic transcription

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