First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1cunning
adjective cun·ning \ˈkə-niŋ\
: getting what is wanted in a clever and often deceptive way
Full Definition of CUNNING
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 <a cunning observation>
3
: characterized by wiliness and trickery <cunning schemes>
4
: prettily appealing : cute <a cunning little kitten>
— cun·ning·ly \-niŋ-lē\ adverb
— cun·ning·ness noun
See cunning defined for English-language learners
See cunning defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of CUNNING
- … this cat has made his way into the Fitness Center for cunning reasons of his own and reveals himself only to certain privileged individuals. —Joyce Carol Oates, Harper's, June 2008
- Throughout his time hunting the vampire, Manolito had been wounded and poisoned on many occasions, but still he'd survived because he'd always used his brain. He was cunning and shrewd and very intelligent. —Christine Feehan, Dark Possession, 2007
- I have recounted the advice I received from an old-timer about how to keep raccoons out of garbage cans—advice that eventually included the purchase of a combination lock. (“A raccoon's cunning, but he's got no head for figures.”) —Calvin Trillin, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 1993
- So the Leader went into his den and looked at his children—two very cunning little cubs, lying on the floor. —Hugh Lofting, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, 1920
- A cunning politician is often found skulking under the clerical robe, with an outside all religion, and an inside all political rancour. —Washington Irving, A History of New York, 1809, in History, Tales and Sketches, (1977) 1983
- [+]more
Origin of CUNNING
Middle English, from present participle of can know
Related to CUNNING
Synonym Discussion of CUNNING
clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving. clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude <a person clever with horses>. adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties <an adroit negotiator>. cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating <a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects>. ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something <an ingenious software engineer>.
sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means. sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods <a sly corporate raider>. cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing <the cunning fox avoided the trap>. crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method <a crafty lefthander>. wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering <the wily fugitive escaped the posse>. tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering <a tricky political operative>. foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing <a foxy publicity man planting stories>. artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness <elicited the information by artful questioning>. slick emphasizes smoothness and guile <slick operators selling time-sharing>.
sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means. sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods <a sly corporate raider>. cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing <the cunning fox avoided the trap>. crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method <a crafty lefthander>. wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering <the wily fugitive escaped the posse>. tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering <a tricky political operative>. foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing <a foxy publicity man planting stories>. artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness <elicited the information by artful questioning>. slick emphasizes smoothness and guile <slick operators selling time-sharing>.
2cunning
noun cun·ning \ˈkə-niŋ\
: cleverness or skill especially at tricking people in order to get something
Full Definition of CUNNING
2
: dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing) <high-ribbed vault … with perfect cunning framed — William Wordsworth>
See cunning defined for English-language learners
Examples of CUNNING
- The writing is best in the play's later scenes, when More deploys his legal cunning to help him weasel out of a political trap set by the oleaginous Thomas Cromwell … —John Lahr, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2008
- Tsvetaeva was lacking, moreover, in any instinct for cunning or self-preservation, or even for what might be called mere getting along … —Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 1994
- He could see no change, save that in the eyes there was a look of cunning and in the mouth the curved wrinkle of the hypocrite. —Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
- [+]more
Origin of CUNNING
(see 1cunning)
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CUNNING
- Synonyms
- artfulness, artifice, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, craft, craftiness, cunningness, deviousness, foxiness, guile, guilefulness, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness
- Antonyms
- artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness
Synonym Discussion of CUNNING
art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power <the art of choosing the right word>. skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency <the skill of a glassblower>. cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing <a mystery plotted with great cunning>. artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature <believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice>. craft may imply expertness in workmanship <the craft of a master goldsmith>.
CUNNING Defined for Kids
1cunning
adjective cun·ning \ˈkə-niŋ\
Definition of CUNNING for Kids
1
: skillful and clever at using special knowledge or at getting something done <a cunning craftsman>
2
: showing craftiness and trickery <a cunning plot> <a cunning thief>
2cunning
noun
Definition of CUNNING for Kids
1
2
: cleverness or skill especially at tricking people in order to get something <… she had been defeated by the superior cunning of the aged witch … — L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz>
Learn More About CUNNING
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: CunninghamiaPrevious Word in the Dictionary: cunnilingusAll Words Near: cunning
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up cunning? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).