cunning

noun
UK: /ˈkʌn.ɪŋ/
US: /ˈkʌn.ɪŋ/

  1. Skill in deceiving people.

    1. The fox showed cunning when it escaped the trap.
    2. Her cunning plan involved distracting the security guard while her accomplice slipped inside.

  2. Cleverness and skill, especially at deceiving people or avoiding difficulties.

    1. The politician's cunning allowed him to manipulate the media.
    2. With cunning and a bit of luck, she managed to negotiate a better deal.

Synonyms

deceit guile trickery shrewd astute wily
cunning adjective

  1. Clever at planning something so that you get what you want, especially by tricking people.

    1. He is a cunning man who always gets his way.
    2. The cunning lawyer exploited a loophole to win the case for his client.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cunning" in English means: Skill in deceiving people., Cleverness and skill, especially at deceiving people or avoiding difficulties..

The phonetic transcription of "cunning" is /ˈkʌn.ɪŋ/ in British English and /ˈkʌn.ɪŋ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cunning": deceit, guile, trickery, shrewd, astute, wily.

Example usage of "cunning": "The fox showed cunning when it escaped the trap.". More examples on the page.