conniving
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of conniving
First recorded in 1625–50; connive ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Someone conniving is calculating, scheming, and shrewd — in other words, sneaky and up to no good. Do you know anyone who is always trying to get away with things? Do they constantly look for ways to get out of trouble or work? Those kind of people are conniving. This is a word for secretive, shifty behavior. However, being conniving isn't the worst thing in the world — it's negative, but you probably wouldn't say a murderer is conniving. It's usually reserved for con men, shady business moguls, and manipulative social climbers.
Vocabulary lists containing conniving
The Cay
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Al Capone Does My Shirts
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Dear Justyce
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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.
"Damon's Odysseus is stubborn, overconfident and sacrilegious, but doesn't bear that much resemblance to the conniving, hypocritical egotist of lore who fretted over his wife's fidelity," she noted.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
According to the footage, what awaits Rhaenyra during her reign are fearful subjects, conniving enemies, sleepless nights and plenty of anguish.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
SantaCon’s conniving leader gives New Yorkers another reason to hate the yearly bar crawl.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026
She may be a conniving opportunist; she may be an abused and desperate woman simply hoping for a better life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026
“He’s been a source of conniving and cajolery in this community long enough,” Mrs. Larkin continued.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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.
