adjective
cunning
KUH-nihng
adjective
1
Clever in a sly or deceptive way, skilled at getting what you want through trickery.
"The fox is often portrayed as a cunning animal in folk tales."
"It was a cunning plan to distract the guards while they slipped past."
noun
1
Skill in deceiving or manipulating others; craftiness.
"He survived on the streets through sheer cunning."
How to Use Cunning
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClever in a scheming, often underhanded way — being smart but in a way that can't quite be trusted.
Common mistake
Cunning usually carries a slightly negative or wary tone, unlike "clever" or "smart," which are more neutral.
Common pairings
a cunning plan
cunning as a fox
cunning strategy
Word Forms
more cunning comparative, cunnings plural, Cunnings plural, most cunning superlative
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The fox is often portrayed as a _____ animal in folk tales.
Etymology
From Middle English cunning, originally the present participle of a verb meaning "to know how to" — related to "can" and "con" (as in "con artist").