artful
Americanadjective
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slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky.
artful schemes.
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skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious.
an artful choice of metaphors and similes.
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done with or characterized by art or skill.
artful acting; artful repairs.
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Archaic. artificial.
adjective
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cunning or tricky
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skilful in achieving a desired end
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archaic characterized by skill or art
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archaic artificial
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of artful
Explanation
To be artful is to do something skillfully, especially in a cunning way. A con man must be artful. To be an artist requires skill and talent: it's not easy to make art. Similarly, doing something in an artful way takes skill. A chess player is artful in escaping an opponent's attack. A politician is artful in appealing to different groups of people. This word also indicates that the skill shown is a little cunning or sneaky. In movies, villains are often artful, as they tell lies or hatch schemes. Often, artful is the opposite of straightforward.
Vocabulary lists containing artful
Bronx Masquerade
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Pro Tips: Synonyms for "Skilled"
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Siddhartha
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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.
Videos generated by Pratt’s own campaign are less artful.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
The new medium soon became a powerful political tool as well, such as Franklin Roosevelt’s artful use of “fireside chats.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
Michael Fernandez’s artful and intrepid cinematography was the best I saw all fest.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
“The Chronology of Water,” on the other hand, is a wholly unforgettable turn for Stewart, who lets her actors do all the storytelling while she remains laser-focused on exploring artful and stylish new storytelling modes.
From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026
Maybe they weren’t as tall as the skyscrapers Gregor knew by name, but they towered high above his head, some at least thirty stories and finished in artful peaks and turrets.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
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.
