Topic Thesaurus
Roget's Thesaurus

Cunning

Nouns
  • cunning, craft
  • cunningness, craftiness etc. adj.
  • subtlety, artificiality
  • maneuvering etc. v.
  • temporization
  • circumvention. chicane, chicanery
  • sharp practice, knavery, jugglery
  • concealment etc. Concealment
  • guile, doubling, duplicity etc. (falsehood) Falsehood
  • foul play. diplomacy, politics
  • Machiavelism
  • jobbery, backstairs influence. art, artifice
  • device, machination
  • plot etc. (plan) Plan
  • maneuver, stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile
  • trick, trickery etc. (deception) Deception
  • ruse
  • finesse, side blow, thin end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion
  • white lie etc. (untruth) Untruth
  • juggle, tour de force
  • tricks of the trade, tricks upon travelers
  • net, trap etc. Deception. Ulysses, Machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard
  • Scotchman
  • Jew, Yankee
  • intriguer, intrigant
  • floater [U.S.], Indian giver [U.S.], keener [U.S.], repeater [U.S.].
Verbs
  • be cunning etc. adj.
  • have cut one's eyeteeth
  • contrive etc. (plan) Plan
  • live by one's wits
  • maneuver
  • intrigue, gerrymander, finesse, double, temporize, stoop to conquer, circumvent, steal a march upon
  • overreach etc. Deception
  • throw off one's guard
  • surprise etc. Inexpectation
  • snatch a verdict
  • waylay, undermine, introduce the thin end of the wedge
  • play a deep game, play tricks with
  • flatter, make things pleasant
  • have an ax to grind. dodge, sidestep, bob and weave.
Adjectives
  • cunning, crafty, artful
  • skillful etc. Skill
  • subtle, feline, vulpine
  • cunning as a fox, cunning as a serpent
  • deep, deep laid
  • profound
  • designing, contriving
  • intriguing etc. v.
  • strategic, diplomatic, politic, Machiavelian, timeserving
  • artificial
  • tricky, tricksy
  • wily, sly, slim, insidious, stealthy
  • underhand etc. (hidden) Concealment
  • subdolous
  • deceitful etc. Deception
  • slippery as an eel, evasive etc. [Absence of pursuit.] Avoidance
  • crooked
  • arch, pawky, shrewd, acute
  • sharp, sharp as a tack, sharp as a needle
  • canny, astute, leery, knowing, up to snuff, too clever by half, not to be caught with chaff. tactful, diplomatic, politic
  • polite etc. Courtesy.
Adverbs
  • cunningly etc. adj.
  • slyly, slily, on the sly, by a side wind.
Phrases
  • diamond cut diamond
  • something is rotten in the state of something is rotten in the state of Denmark" [Hamlet].