sly

[ slahy ]

adjective

comparative: slyer or slier [slahy, -er],superlative: slyest or sliest [slahy, -ist].

1. cunning or wily:

   sly as a fox.

   Synonyms: astute, shrewd, crafty, foxy, subtle, artful

   Antonyms: obvious, direct

2. stealthy, insidious, or secret.

   Synonyms: clandestine, underhand, furtive, surreptitious

3. playfully artful, mischievous, or roguish:

   sly humor.

sly

/ slaɪ /

adjective

1. crafty; artful

   a sly dodge

2. insidious; furtive

   a sly manner

3. playfully mischievous; roguish

   sly humour

noun

1. on the sly
   on the sly in a secretive manner

Derived Forms

• ˈslyly, adverb
• ˈslyness, noun

Other Words From

• slyly adverb
• slyness noun
• un·sly adjective unslyer unslyest
• un·slyly adverb
• un·slyness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sly¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English sly, sley , from Old Norse slœgr “sly, cunning” (originally “able to strike, able to slay”); slay ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sly¹

C12: from Old Norse slǣgr clever, literally: able to strike, from slā to slay

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the sly, secretly;

   a tryst on the sly.

More idioms and phrases containing sly

see on the sly .

Example Sentences

From a geeky standpoint, Smith’s reboot-y sequel series honors its predecessor in ways notable and sly, thereby allowing it to function both as an accessible entry point and as a fleshed-out extension of what came before.

From The Daily Beast

It’s a show about fitness, but it’s also, in a sly way, about feminism.

From The Daily Beast

On the subject of fashion, men have been quite the sly devils over the years.

From Washington Post

Google security researchers are warning people to be on the lookout for a squad of sly hackers believed to be North Korean agents.

From Fortune

As Xu Bing himself has noted, his made-up characters “seem to upset intellectuals,” in a sly sendup of our respect for the written word.

From Nautilus

Rambo movie marathon—11 am-12 am, AMCBecause nothing says the holidays like Sly Stallone and blood.

From The Daily Beast

The movie has a very sly sense of humor, and I think people might miss that.

From The Daily Beast

This weekend, you can see Sly lay waste to hundreds of fools in The Expendables 3.

From The Daily Beast

Rylance was unforgettable as the mordantly sly king in Richard III, giving a brilliant new twist to a classic role.

From The Daily Beast

Her songs draw on Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and contemporary hip-hop.

From The Daily Beast

Jones said this with a chuckle and a sly expression in his face, as he glanced meaningly at his companion.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place, one element of public-house talk—the overt or sly indecency—is left out.

From Project Gutenberg

He had known men who were almost as sly as rats; but on the whole he looked upon them as inferior beings.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a sly emphasis on the word, and a subtle humor in his look that showed the old detective at his worst.

From Project Gutenberg

We got Fanny a dress on the sly, gaudy black velvet and Duchesse lace.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• canny
• impish
• ingenious
• intriguing
• mischievous
• roguish
• shrewd
• smart
• subtle