January 29, 2026
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.