wily

[ wahy-lee ]

/ ˈwaɪ li /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wily ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, wil·i·er, wil·i·est.

full of, marked by, or proceeding from wiles; crafty; cunning.

Nearby words

Origin of wily

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at wile, -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR wily

artful, sly, designing, intriguing, tricky, foxy, deceitful, treacherous.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wily ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR wily

straightforward, open.

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Related formswil·i·ly, adverbwil·i·ness, nouno·ver·wil·y, adjectiveun·wil·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wily

As wily as his character when asked about it, Sheen proved himself to be a master of the media, feinting with a good sound bite.
Michael Sheen’s Masterful Study of Sex and Insecurity|Caryn James|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rick Wilson, a top Florida GOP political consultant, describes Rivera as “a wily character ... [who has] run out of tricks.”
Former Congressman May Be Future Convict|Ben Jacobs|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was wily and stylish enough to walk around the field scoring off defenders young enough to be his children.
Why Americans Should Love the World Cup|Sean Wilsey|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The distorted image of the wily Jesuit is unlikely to disappear.
Thank God Pope Francis Is a Jesuit|Jonathan Wright|March 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They were wily, changing their car tags along the road and possibly tossing their cell phones.
Fugitive Stripper’s Wild Ride|Lynn Waddell|August 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They are great fighters, but are also wily, often averting danger by resorting to stratagem.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide|Augusta Foote Arnold
In reply the wily Mexican attempted to convey an insinuation of bad faith on the part of the American government.
The War With Mexico, Volume I (of 2)|Justin H. Smith
The wily minister, however, had many things to arrange before they set out; but of what nature he did not reveal to his master.
Diary And Notes Of Horace Templeton, Esq.|Charles James Lever
How cutting was the anguish which the good man felt, when he perceived this turn in the wily Prince!
The Castle of Otranto|Horace Walpole
It was just at this point that the wily farmer said to me, "Now I'm going to start placing the fifteen sheep."
Amusements in Mathematics|Henry Ernest Dudeney

British Dictionary definitions for wily

wily

/ (ˈwaɪlɪ) /

adjective wilier or wiliest

characterized by or proceeding from wiles; sly or crafty

Derived Formswiliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wily

wily

adj.

c.1300, from wile + -ly (1). Related: Wiliness.

wily

adjective, wil·i·er, wil·i·est.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of wily

Examples from the Web for wily

British Dictionary definitions for wily

wily

adjective wilier or wiliest

Word Origin and History for wily

wily