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Synonyms

artful

American  
[ahrt-fuhl] / ˈɑrt fəl /

adjective

  1. slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky.

    artful schemes.

  2. skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious.

    an artful choice of metaphors and similes.

  3. done with or characterized by art or skill.

    artful acting; artful repairs.

  4. Archaic. artificial.

artful British  
/ ˈɑːtfʊl /

adjective

  1. cunning or tricky

  2. skilful in achieving a desired end

  3. archaic characterized by skill or art

  4. archaic artificial

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • artfully adverb
  • artfulness noun
  • unartful adjective
  • unartfully adverb
  • unartfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of artful

First recorded in 1605–15; art 1 + -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.

Steele draws out June’s search and the mother-and-child reunion at a pace that is both realistic and artful.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

We’re still picnicking under piñatas, and some of us still gather at newsstands to flip through artful magazines and meet like-minded strangers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

The result is an artful onslaught of high-flying, spinning, partnered and sometimes tumbling excursions suggesting that Mr. Peck was eagerly all wound up as he choreographed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

However, A Firmer Hand - which mixed artful indie rock and synth-pop with open, emotional lyrics regarding Hawk's relationships with various men - marked a step up for the singer, resulting in glowing reviews.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

“Me loves Parpar,” said the artful one, preparing to climb the paternal knee and revel in forbidden joys.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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.