adjective
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skilled in deception; shrewd; cunning
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archaic skilful
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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craftinessnoun
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uncraftinessnoun
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quasi-craftyadjective
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uncraftyadjective
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craftilyadverb
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quasi-craftilyadverb
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uncraftilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of crafty
before 900; Middle English; Old English cræftig skilled. See craft, -y 1
Explanation
If people call you crafty, they probably mean you are sly and a little deceptive. Then again, they could be saying that you are really good at knitting, beading, and turning old t-shirts into funky pillowcases. The adjective crafty comes from the Old English word cræftig, which meant “strong” or “powerful,” but the meaning of crafty these days has to do with being skilled at getting what you want through manipulation or trickery. Dickens’ Artful Dodger, the con-man from Oliver Twist, is crafty. Handmade items, and sometimes the people who make them, can also be called crafty, like your crafty sister who always makes you unique birthday gifts.
Vocabulary lists containing crafty
Charlotte's Web
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This Week in Words: January 6 - 12, 2018
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Bright Ideas: Synonyms For "Smart"
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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.
See Examples For:
An all-rounder for the better part of her first decade in cricket, she made herself indispensable to the side with her explosive middle-order batting, crafty off-spin and sharp fielding skills.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Its storytelling economy is just as crafty, finding splendor with humble tools, and distills Parton’s whole persona into one perfect song.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
But Major League Baseball today isn’t defined by crafty wordsmiths on the mound with their own styles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
You can also fill individual piping bags with your favorite sauces and get really crafty.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Her crafty, golden eyes had not been idle for a second since entering Cluny’s camp.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
The remaining nominees — knockouts of style and mood — are craftier evocations, digging into spaces where memories are vivid yet elusive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2024
But the flipping is craftier than just that.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 5, 2019
Nearly a decade older and substantially craftier, Ms. Lash has returned to some of the same thematic territory in her new work, “Desire,” which premieres at the Miller Theater at Columbia University on Wednesday.
From New York Times ● Oct. 11, 2019
Is he just learning to pitch more craftier or should we be concerned with a potential injury or skill decline?
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2019
I didn’t want to reveal my observations because they might make her craftier, so I said, “I was just wondering.”
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
If that happens, the craftiest otters may be the most prepared.
From Science Magazine ● May 15, 2024
She’s the craftiest operator within the Waystar Royco ranks and has survived attempts by others to have her ousted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
Since then, the Packers have rolled off four wins in a row with Rodgers back to his craftiest and most resourceful self.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2023
The point guard was at his craftiest despite shooting just four free throws, and his confidence clearly rubbed off on the rest of the young Suns.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 6, 2021
How would he, the craftiest of all, the most cunning planner, catch a salmon?
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
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.
