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:
If you’re a crafty person, which it sounds like you are, I can understand the temptation to update whatever you want with the intention of changing it back before moving out.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026
Arsenal's 11 international withdrawals - injury crisis or crafty caution?
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
“Mia is a crafty midfielder with great vision,” coach Marlon Archey said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2026
Mr. Cameron was once a crafty genre writer and an adept director; now he is merely a showman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
Even now, though obviously not hunting, it had a crafty, predatory look that made the watchers among the dog roses shiver.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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
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
Woods spoke of craftier methods, the way he and Peyton Manning discussed probably around 2012, when the quarterback ailed and said he could do just six pushups, then went and won NFL MVP award.
From Washington Post ● May 14, 2019
But I wouldn't be surprised if Putin had something even craftier up his sleeve.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2018
The elder brother’s cowardice told him, in his craftier head, that a son could hardly raise his illegitimacy as a banner under which to overthrow his father.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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
On Friday, Ons Jabeur, perhaps the craftiest of all the new women’s stars, used it on match point in her third-round victory over Garbiñe Muguruza on Centre Court.
From New York Times ● Jul. 3, 2021
“In my opinion,” Heqet was saying in his craftiest manner, “they are going to use that room themselves, Gebu and Wenamon.”
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
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.
