Slyness: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when describing someone who is clever and secretive in achieving their goals, often in a way that is morally ambiguous.

• Her slyness allowed her to solve the puzzle before anyone else.
• The fox's slyness helped it evade the hunters.

Describes the ability to achieve goals through clever and often deceitful means. It usually has a stronger negative connotation than 'slyness' or 'craftiness'.

• With cunning tactics, the spy obtained the secret documents.
• Her cunning plan led to the downfall of her business rival.

Typically refers to someone who is skillful at achieving their aims through indirect, often clever, methods. This can have a positive or negative connotation depending on the situation.

• His craftiness in negotiating saved the company millions.
• The villain’s craftiness was evident in how he manipulated everyone around him.

Used when describing behavior that involves lying and betraying others. This word has a strong negative connotation and implies a lack of trustworthiness.

• His deceitfulness ruined their partnership.
• The deceitfulness of the scheme was eventually uncovered.

Use this word when describing someone who is clever and sneaky in their actions, often to achieve something without being noticed.

• Her slyness allowed her to find out secrets without anyone realizing

Use this word to highlight someone's intention to mislead or trick others, usually with the aim to gain some advantage dishonestly.

• His deceptiveness in business deals eventually led to his downfall

This word applies when someone is being deceitful by pretending to look one way while acting another, typically in a more formal or serious context.

• The politician’s duplicity was revealed when his conflicting promises were exposed

Use this word when referring to crafty intelligence and cleverness used to achieve a goal, often with a negative connotation.

• With great guile, she navigated through the difficult negotiations