adjective

crafty

crafty, cunning, wily, sly

He used a crafty plan to win the game.

He used a crafty plan to win the game.

The crafty fox outsmarted the hunter.

The crafty fox outsmarted the hunter.

((adj.)) clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods. He used a crafty plan to win the game.

Synonyms: cunning, wily, sly; Antonyms: naive, straightforward

From 'craft' (skill, art) + '-y' (full of). Originally meant 'skillful', but developed a negative sense of 'cunning' or 'deceitful'.

A crafty person uses their 'craft' or skill in a clever, sometimes dishonest, way to get what they want.

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