Dictionary.com

artful

[ ahrt-fuhl ]
/ ˈɑrt fəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR artful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky: artful schemes.
skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious: an artful choice of metaphors and similes.
done with or characterized by art or skill: artful acting; artful repairs.
Archaic. artificial.

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Origin of artful

First recorded in 1605–15; art1 + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM artful

Words nearby artful

Arteveld, Artex, art film, art for art's sake, art form, artful, art glass, art historical, art house, arthr-, arthralgia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to artful

ingenious, sly, adroit, slick, shrewd, masterly, adept, clever, crafty, designing, dexterous, foxy, politic, proficient, resourceful, scheming, sharp, smart, smooth, tricky

Example sentences from the Web for artful

British Dictionary definitions for artful

artful
/ (ˈɑːtfʊl) /

adjective

cunning or tricky
skilful in achieving a desired end
archaic characterized by skill or art
archaic artificial

Derived forms of artful

artfully, adverbartfulness, noun
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