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Meaning of cunning
having or showing skill and intelligence in achieving something, often in a secret or dishonest way
Etymology of cunning
The word "cunning" originated from the Old English word "cunnan," which means "to know, to have knowledge"
It is related to the Old Norse word "kunna," and the Middle English word "cunnen," which also mean "to know"
Historically, the word "cunning" had a more positive connotation, implying skill or knowledge, but over time it developed a more negative sense, implying deceit or dishonesty
Synonyms
clever
sly
crafty
astute
shrewd
ingenious
resourceful
skillful
adept
artful
deceitful
dishonest
duplicitous
fraudulent
guileful
insidious
manipulative
sharp
subtle
underhanded
wily
Machiavellian
deceptive
elusive
evasive
foxy
stealthy
surreptitious
tactical
strategic
cleverly
sharply
wisely
Definitions
- Having or showing skill and intelligence in achieving something, often in a secret or dishonest way
- * Having a natural ability to do something that needs skill, especially in a way that is clever but slightly dishonest
Usage Examples
- She was a cunning businesswoman who knew how to negotiate a good deal
- * He was a cunning thief who managed to steal the valuable artifact without getting caught
- * The company used cunning marketing tactics to promote their new product
Antonyms
clumsy
inept
incompetent
naive
foolish
stupid
ignorant
obtuse
simple
straightforward
honest
sincere
trustworthy
genuine
artless
guileless
innocent
unsophisticated
crude
blunt
tactless
insensitive