cunning

/ˈkʌnɪŋ/adjective

Clever at getting what you want, often by tricking people in a sneaky way.

Example sentences

“The fox in the story uses a cunning trick to steal the cheese.”
“It was a cunning scheme to avoid paying the entry fee.”

As a noun it names the quality itself, often in 'low cunning'. Older and British usage could apply it admiringly to skill.

Featured as word of the day on January 29, 2026.

Related words

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