adj
wily
WEYE-lee
adj
1
Clever in a sneaky or cunning way, especially at getting what one wants.
"The wily old fox slipped past the hunters again."
"She's a wily negotiator who always seems to get the better deal."
How to Use Wily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCunning and crafty — someone (or something) that outsmarts others through clever tricks.
Common pairings
wily old fox
wily negotiator
wily tactics
Word Forms
wilier comparative, more wily comparative, wiliest superlative, most wily superlative
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The _____ old fox slipped past the hunters again.
Etymology
From Middle English wily, built from wile (a crafty trick) + -y.