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um' aria-hidden='true'>2 characterized by wiliness and trickery //cunning schemes //… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by. — Anthony Lane
  • displaying keen insight //a cunning observation
  • prettily appealing cute //a cunning little kitten
  • noun

    Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

    • dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) //To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning. — Naveen Kumar //Her knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor. — Brian Jacques
    • ability to mislead, trap, or escape an enemy or opponent craft, slyness //Few fish can match the blazing speed of a mako, the sheer power of a great white, or the great cunning of a tiger shark. — William McKeever
    • obsolete
      magic art
    Other Words
    Adjective
    • cun​ning​ly ˈkə-niŋ-lē adverb //They cunningly dodged our questions.
    • cun​ning​ness noun
    Examples
    Adjective
    • //She was cunning enough to fool me.
    • //a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
    Noun
    • //He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning.
    • //the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
    First Known Use
    Adjective
    14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    um' aria-hidden='true'>2 characterized by wiliness and trickery //cunning schemes //… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by. — Anthony Lane
  • displaying keen insight //a cunning observation
  • prettily appealing cute //a cunning little kitten
  • noun

    Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

    • dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) //To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning. — Naveen Kumar //Her knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor. — Brian Jacques
    • ability to mislead, trap, or escape an enemy or opponent craft, slyness //Few fish can match the blazing speed of a mako, the sheer power of a great white, or the great cunning of a tiger shark. — William McKeever
    • obsolete
      magic art
    Other Words
    Adjective
    • cun​ning​ly ˈkə-niŋ-lē adverb //They cunningly dodged our questions.
    • cun​ning​ness noun
    Examples
    Adjective
    • //She was cunning enough to fool me.
    • //a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
    Noun
    • //He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning.
    • //the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
    First Known Use
    Adjective
    14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    um' aria-hidden='true'>2 characterized by wiliness and trickery //cunning schemes //… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by. — Anthony Lane
  • displaying keen insight //a cunning observation
  • prettily appealing cute //a cunning little kitten
  • noun

    Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

    • dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) //To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning. — Naveen Kumar //Her knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor. — Brian Jacques
    • ability to mislead, trap, or escape an enemy or opponent craft, slyness //Few fish can match the blazing speed of a mako, the sheer power of a great white, or the great cunning of a tiger shark. — William McKeever
    • obsolete
      magic art
    Other Words
    Adjective
    • cun​ning​ly ˈkə-niŋ-lē adverb //They cunningly dodged our questions.
    • cun​ning​ness noun
    Examples
    Adjective
    • //She was cunning enough to fool me.
    • //a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
    Noun
    • //He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning.
    • //the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
    First Known Use
    Adjective
    14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    um' aria-hidden='true'>2 characterized by wiliness and trickery //cunning schemes //… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by. — Anthony Lane
  • displaying keen insight //a cunning observation
  • prettily appealing cute //a cunning little kitten
  • noun

    Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

    • dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) //To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning. — Naveen Kumar //Her knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor. — Brian Jacques
    • ability to mislead, trap, or escape an enemy or opponent craft, slyness //Few fish can match the blazing speed of a mako, the sheer power of a great white, or the great cunning of a tiger shark. — William McKeever
    • obsolete
      magic art
    Other Words
    Adjective
    • cun​ning​ly ˈkə-niŋ-lē adverb //They cunningly dodged our questions.
    • cun​ning​ness noun
    Examples
    Adjective
    • //She was cunning enough to fool me.
    • //a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
    Noun
    • //He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning.
    • //the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
    First Known Use
    Adjective
    14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    um' aria-hidden='true'>2 characterized by wiliness and trickery //cunning schemes //… there's the cunning brevity of the chapters—a hundred and twenty-nine of them—that makes a long story zip by. — Anthony Lane
  • displaying keen insight //a cunning observation
  • prettily appealing cute //a cunning little kitten
  • noun

    Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

    • dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) //To go in knowing little or nothing about the play may be the purest way to experience its dramatic cunning. — Naveen Kumar //Her knowledge was born of vast experience, the natural cunning of a survivor. — Brian Jacques
    • ability to mislead, trap, or escape an enemy or opponent craft, slyness //Few fish can match the blazing speed of a mako, the sheer power of a great white, or the great cunning of a tiger shark. — William McKeever
    • obsolete
      magic art
    Other Words
    Adjective
    • cun​ning​ly ˈkə-niŋ-lē adverb //They cunningly dodged our questions.
    • cun​ning​ness noun
    Examples
    Adjective
    • //She was cunning enough to fool me.
    • //a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices
    Noun
    • //He may be a fraud, but you have to admire his cunning.
    • //the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him
    First Known Use
    Adjective
    14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1