artful

[ ahrt-fuhl ]
See synonyms for: artfulartfullyartfulness on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. done with or characterized by art or skill: artful acting; artful repairs.

  2. Archaic. artificial.

Origin of artful

1
First recorded in 1605–15; art1 + -ful

Other words from artful

  • art·ful·ly, adverb
  • art·ful·ness, noun
  • un·art·ful, adjective
  • un·art·ful·ly, adverb
  • un·art·ful·ness, noun

Words Nearby artful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use artful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for artful

artful

/ (ˈɑːtfʊl) /


adjective
  1. cunning or tricky

  2. skilful in achieving a desired end

  1. archaic characterized by skill or art

  2. archaic artificial

Derived forms of artful

  • artfully, adverb
  • artfulness, 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