artful

[ ahrt-fuhl ]

/ ˈɑrt fəl /

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See synonyms for: artful / artfully / artfulness 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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of artful

First recorded in 1605–15; art¹ + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM artful

art·ful·ly, adverbart·ful·ness, nounun·art·ful, adjectiveun·art·ful·ly, adverb

un·art·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use artful in a sentence

In Nigeria, she earned a reputation as a corruption fighter as well as an artful dealmaker, helping negotiate a write off of $18 billion in national debt.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Believes the WTO Can Change the World. But First It Needs Reform|Justin Worland|February 13, 2021|Time
He artfully steps back from a social setting and criticizes it without—I suspect—without letting himself be vulnerable to it.
Mel Brooks Is Always Funny and Often Wise in This 1975 Playboy Interview|Alex Belth|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In another, she wears flippers while topless and curled artfully into a chair.
Lindsay Mills, Edward Snowden’s Girlfriend, Writes ‘All I Feel Is Alone’|Caroline Linton|June 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some of us would like it to do more with less —more nimbly, more artfully.
Why Conservatives Should Be Rooting for Defense Cuts|Mark McKinnon|January 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Middle-class desperation simmers artfully in “Can I Just Sit Here for a While?”
This Week’s Hot Reads: Nov. 26, 2012|Mythili Rao|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It artfully preserves timeless questions about the nature of love, too.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Nov. 26, 2012|Mythili Rao|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The stranger turned, and stared at Garnache with a look of wonder that artfully changed to one of disdainful recognition.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
He eyed her artfully, winked playfully, and continued: "You'll like it when you get the modesty out of yourself."
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
As they climbed the hill-stair Stone artfully trimmed the ragged edges of his wife's discontent.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
You have been informed how artfully the conspiracy was carried on, and how I arrived eight and forty hours after I came.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
Myrtle, youre looking as fresh as the first roses, said King OLeary artfully.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson

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

artful

Origin of artful

OTHER WORDS FROM artful

Words related to artful

How to use artful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for artful

Derived forms of artful