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Synonyms

crafty

American  
[kraf-tee, krahf-] / ˈkræf ti, ˈkrɑf- /

adjective

craftier, craftiest

  1. skillful in underhand or evil schemes; cunning; deceitful; sly.

    Synonyms:
    scheming, designing, tricky, wily

  2. Obsolete. skillful; ingenious; dexterous.

crafty British  
/ ˈkrɑːftɪ /

adjective

  1. skilled in deception; shrewd; cunning

  2. archaic skilful

"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

  • craftily adverb
  • craftiness noun
  • quasi-craftily adverb
  • quasi-crafty adjective
  • uncraftily adverb
  • uncraftiness noun
  • uncrafty adjective

Etymology

Origin of crafty

before 900; Middle English; Old English cræftig skilled. See craft, -y 1

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.

A lot of people get crafty at Christmas, including kids who pretend they’ve been good all year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Cameron was once a crafty genre writer and an adept director; now he is merely a showman.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iacoboni is fairly crafty, she said, so handmade ornaments are an option if there is time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thanksgiving offers a chance to get crafty with traditional holiday staples.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rich, evocative, crafty and exciting, it’s one of the few standout movies of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.