crafty

[kraf-tee, krahf-]

adjective

craftier, craftiest 

1. skillful in underhand or evil schemes; cunning; deceitful; sly.

   Synonyms: scheming, designing, tricky, wily

2. Obsolete.,  skillful; ingenious; dexterous.

crafty

/ ˈkrɑːftɪ /

adjective

1. skilled in deception; shrewd; cunning

2. archaic,  skilful

Other Word Forms

• craftily adverb
• craftiness noun
• quasi-craftily adverb
• quasi-crafty adjective
• uncraftily adverb
• uncraftiness noun
• uncrafty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crafty¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English cræftig skilled. See craft, -y ¹

Example Sentences

When the physical elevator goes down, the mental elevator rises, allowing the player new and crafty ways to get open.

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She was just a “crafty girl,” who had tired of outdated Y2K sticker designs and decided to take matters into her own hands, she said in a recent interview with The Times.

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As he has aged, and his velocity has dipped, Kershaw has become more of a crafty left-hander.

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Muncy did have some rust to knock off, going hitless in three at-bats with a walk and strikeout in his first game back Monday night against crafty Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray.

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For the crafty couple, home renovations are their love language.

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Related Words

• astute 
• cagey 
• canny 
• devious 
• insidious 
• shrewd 
• slick 
• sly 
• wily