guileful
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of guileful
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at guile, -ful
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In fact her quote was more guileful than that—and all the more revealing for it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
The game still features plenty of lung-burning rallies, but there is much more action now in the front of the court — more drop shots and guileful flicks.
From New York Times • May 4, 2022
Facebook’s own guileful way of presenting the issue was to claim that while “passive” consumption of social media content could pose mental health risks, more engagement could “improve wellbeing”.
From The Guardian • Aug. 23, 2019
He was never truthful with anyone, but always guileful in what he said and did, yet easily hoodwinked by any who wanted to deceive him.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2019
And however much they played and were children, still their faces were scored with the knowledge and cares that children should not have, their eyes were knowing and guileful beyond their years.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
