slyly
Americanadverb
-
in a deceitful manner; cunningly.
They slyly plot to overthrow us.
-
in a roguish or mischievous way.
Some were serious, while others slyly winked at the camera.
Etymology
Origin of slyly
First recorded 1350–1400 slyly ( def. 1 ); 1835–40 slyly ( def. 2 ); sly ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
It recently played out in public in the form of a Super Bowl ad campaign slyly attacking OpenAI—without naming it—for its decision to include ads in its chatbot.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
Just as importantly, Moore and Sabbat’s lovely performances slyly alter our impressions of those previous chapters, building to some of the tenderest moments of Jarmusch’s career.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025
Alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, a Messenger from 1977 to 1981, is represented by his brightly accessible and slyly swinging “Fuller Love.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025
The “Alligator Alcatraz” storefront is cartoon gators slyly winking at us from under red baseball caps: It’s just a joke, and you’re in on it.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 27, 2025
Then slyly, the fife music slid into a playful tune, poking, plucking at their brittle senses.
From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi
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.
