cunning Meaning & Definition
What Does Cunning Mean?
Cunning is an adjective that means Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour. It is also used to mean Skillful, artful. As a noun, it means Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
Quick Facts About Cunning
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /-ʌnɪŋ/ |
| Synonyms | artful, adroit and clever |
| Plural | cunnings |
| Comparative / superlative | more cunning, most cunning |
Cunning Definition (Adjective)
- Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
- Skillful, artful.
- Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
cunning work
- Cute, appealing.
Cunning as a Noun
- Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
- Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit; art or magic.
- The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
- The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
the cunning of the fox or hare
- Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
Synonyms of Cunning
Cunning in a Sentence
cunning work
the cunning of the fox or hare
a cunning little boy
Word Forms & Grammar
cunning (comparative more cunning, superlative most cunning)
cunning (countable and uncountable, plural cunnings)
Words That Rhyme With Cunning
Origin of Cunning
Origin 1: From Middle English cunning, kunning, konnyng, alteration of earlier Middle English cunninde, kunnende, cunnand, from Old English cunnende, present participle of cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”), equivalent to con + -ing. Cognate with Scots cunnand (“cunning”), German könnend (“able to do”), Icelandic kunnandi (“cunning”). More at con, can.
Origin 2: From Middle English cunning, kunnyng, partially from Old English *cunning (verbal noun), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”); partially from Old English cunnung (“knowledge, trial, probation, experience, contact, carnal knowledge”), from cunnian (“to search into, try, test, seek for, explore, investigate, experience, have experience of, to make trial of, know”), equivalent to con + -ing.
Common Questions About Cunning
Is cunning an adjective or a noun?
Cunning is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for cunning?
You can replace cunning with words such as artful, adroit and clever. See the full list of cunning synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of cunning?
The plural of cunning is cunnings.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of cunning?
The comparative form is more cunning and the superlative form is most cunning.