cunning
Translation
cunning, sly, crafty, wily
Examples
He is as cunning as a fox.
He is as cunning as a fox.
She used her cunning to get what she wanted.
She used her cunning to get what she wanted.
Grammar Patterns
((cunning)) + noun He had a cunning plan.
as ((cunning)) as a fox He is as cunning as a fox.
Similar Words
Synonyms: crafty, wily, artful, sly; Antonyms: naive, guileless, ingenuous
Etymology
From Old English 'cunnan' meaning 'to know, be able to', related to 'can' and 'know'. The sense shifted to 'clever' and then 'deceitfully clever'.
Memory Tips
A 'cunning' person 'can' do things others can't, often through clever tricks. Think of a cunning fox in a story. It can also be a noun for the quality of being cunning.