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:
The Sparks claimed a 47-44 halftime lead after a steal by Burrell, which she followed with a crafty reverse layup in the final seconds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
You can also fill individual piping bags with your favorite sauces and get really crafty.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Arsenal's 11 international withdrawals - injury crisis or crafty caution?
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
This is the perfect time to give it to a crafty friend or neighbor.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026
I tried to be crafty as I hid my horror.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
But the French league will still have Messi, who’s a little slower but a lot more craftier.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 23, 2022
But the flipping is craftier than just that.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 5, 2019
But I wouldn't be surprised if Putin had something even craftier up his sleeve.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2018
Was he going off script for a moment — or only offering an even craftier set of lines his directors had given him?
From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2018
She’d used craftier methods, like this, and gotten better results.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
If that happens, the craftiest otters may be the most prepared.
From Science Magazine ● May 15, 2024
Hardy, “The Mockingbird & the Crow” Having written every stupid-brilliant bro-country song he could, one of Nashville’s craftiest operators turns his ball cap around and goes nü-metal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 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
Jade is the craftiest out of all of us, which is why Mr. Chapman called her “the Artist.”
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
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.
