cunning

  • 11cunning — cun|ning1 [ˈkʌnıŋ] adj [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: Present participle of cun to know , an early form of can; CAN1] 1.) someone who is cunning is clever and good at deceiving people in order to get what they want = ↑crafty ▪ a cunning opponent 2.)… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 12cunning — 1 adjective 1 someone who is cunning is good at deceiving people in order to get what they want: She can be very cunning when she wants to be. 2 behaviour or actions that are cunning are dishonest and unfair, and are used to get what you want:… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 13cunning — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ great ▪ devious, low (esp. BrE) ▪ animal ▪ native ▪ She relied on her native cunni …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 14cunning — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Craftiness Nouns 1. cunning, craft, craftiness, canniness, wit; gumption; slyness, artifice, art; subtlety, finesse, maneuvering; diplomacy, Machiavellianism, politics; resourcefulness; Jesuitry;… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 15cunning — [[t]kʌ̱nɪŋ[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is cunning has the ability to achieve things in a clever way, often by deceiving other people. These disturbed kids can be cunning. ...Mr Blair s cunning plan. Syn: crafty Derived words: cunningly ADV… …

    English dictionary

  • 16cunning — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from present participle of can know Date: 14th century 1. dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end < a cunning plotter > 2. displaying keen insight&#8230; …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 17cunning — cunningly, adv. cunningness, n. /kun ing/, n. 1. skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving; craftiness; guile. 2. adeptness in performance; dexterity: The weaver s hand lost its cunning. adj. 3. showing or made with ingenuity. 4.&#8230; …

    Universalium

  • 18cunning — cun|ning1 [ kʌnıŋ ] adjective 1. ) someone who is cunning uses their intelligence to get what they want, especially by tricking or cheating people: a cunning and resourceful criminal a ) used about people s behavior, actions, or ideas: a cunning&#8230; …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 19cunning — Synonyms and related words: Byzantine, Daedalian, Machiavellian, Machiavellianism, Machiavellic, ability, acute, address, adept, adeptness, adroit, adroitness, agility, airmanship, ambidexterity, ambidextrous, animal cunning, apt, arch, art,&#8230; …

    Moby Thesaurus

  • 20cunning — 1. adjective 1) a cunning scheme Syn: crafty, wily, artful, devious, sly, scheming, canny, dishonest, deceitful 2) a cunning plan Syn: clever, ingenious …

    Synonyms and antonyms dictionary