Reverse Dictionary: CUNNING

ADJECTIVES
► AIRTY cunning, artful → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► ANCIENT cunning, clever → 1880 Eng. dial.
► ARTFUL AS A (WHOLE) WAGON-LOAD OF MONKEYS very cunning → L19 sl.
► ASTUCIOUS cunning, astute, subtle, crafty, shrewd → 1823
► AULD-FARRANT cunning, sagacious, prudent, knowing, clever, witty, ingenious → 1721 Sc.
► BACK-DOOR cunning, mean, stealthy, underhand, devious, untrustworthy → 1898 N. Ireland (Bk.)
► CAGEY ► CAGY cunning, wary, cautious, crafty, reticent, non-committal → 1893 US colloq.
► CALLENT cunning or wise by experience, crafty, witty → 1656 obs.
► CALLID cunning, crafty → 1656 obs.
► CANNY cunning, artful, wily → a1662 Sc. obs.
► CAUTELOUS cunning, deceitful, crafty, sly, artful, wily → 1380s obs.
► COCUM ► COKUM ► KOCUM ► KOKUM cunning, smart → 1839 sl.
► COONY wily, crafty, cunning; canny, shrewd → 1891 US sl.
► CRAFTFUL characterized by cunning or guile; crafty → 1776 obs.
► CRAFTLY displaying skill at deception or deviousness; crafty, cunning → 1526 obs.
► CRAFTY-HEADED shrewd; cunning; scheming → 1589 obs.
► CRAZY LIKE A FOX sly, artful, very cunning, shrewd → 1908 sl., orig. US
► CUNNING AS A MAORI DOG very cunning indeed → c1925 NZ sl.
► CUNNING AS A SHIT-HOUSE RAT very cunning indeed → 1957 Aust. sl.
► CUNNING AS A (WHOLE) WAGON-LOAD OF MONKEYS  very cunning, with a considerable admixture of mischievousness to go with it → 20C colloq.
► DAINY cunning, sly → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DATCHIE cunning, sly → 19C Sc.
► DEEP profoundly cunning, artful, or sly → 1513
► DEEP AS GARLICK cunning, artful → 19C Eng. dial.
► DEEP AS GARRATT cunning, artful → 1856 Eng. dial.
► DEEP AS GARRICK cunning, artful → 1882 Eng. dial.
► DEEP AS GARRY cunning, artful → 19C Eng. dial.
► DEEP AS THE NORTH ► DEEP AS THE NORTH STAR cunning, artful → 19C Eng. dial.
► DEEP AS WILKES cunning, artful → 19C Eng. dial.
► DOWNY cunning, knowing, artful, shrewd, aware, crafty → 1803 sl., chiefly Brit.
► ENGINOUS cunning, clever, ingenious, crafty → c1325 obs.
► FARRAND cunning, deep → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FOSKY cunning, foxy → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► FOXY cunning, perspicacious, shrewd → M19
► GAFTY cunning, sly, tricky, not to be trusted; mischievous, vicious → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► GAME cunning, villainous → E19 sl.
► GINNOUS cunning, crafty, guileful → c1425 obs.
► HAIRY cunning, clever, sharp, capable → 1905 N. Ireland (Bk.)
► HIGH-WITTED cunning, artful, sly → 1588
► IKEY cunning, sly, artful, smart → 1887 sl., derogatory & offensive
► IKEYMO cunning, devious → L19 sl.
► KEELY cunning → 1919 Sc.
► KNACKETY ► KNACKY ► KNAWKY ► NACKY ► NAUKY ► NAWKY cunning, resourceful → 1785 sl.
► LEARY ► LEERY cunning, astute, knowing, artful; wide-awake; alert; cautious, wary → 1718 sl.
► MACHIAVELLIAN cunning, astute; practicing duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct → 1579
► MACHIAVELLIC cunning, astute; practicing duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct → 1838
► MACHIAVELLINE cunning, astute; practicing duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct → 1602 obs.
► MACHINOUS cunningly contrived → 1633 obs.
► MIDDLING-FAUSE cunning → 1874 Eng. dial.
► NARROW-NEBBED cunning, stingy → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NORTH clever, cunning → 1700 sl.
► OLD cunning, sly, crafty, clever → 1722
► OLD-FASHIONED cunning, knowing, intelligent; precocious → 1844 Eng. dial.
► OLDISH ► OULDISH cunning, knowing → 1837 Eng. dial.
► OWLY cunning → 1906 US sl.
► PAUKY ► PAWKY cunning, shrewd, knowing, artful, sly; insinuating → 1726 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► POLITIC cunning, scheming, crafty → 1543 derogatory
► PRETTY cunning, crafty; later, clever, skilful, able → 1000
► QUAINT cunning, crafty, given to scheming or plotting → a1225 obs.
► QUIRKIE ► QUIRKY cunning, wily, resourceful, tricky → 1806 Sc.
► QUIRKSOME cunning, wily, resourceful, tricky → 1896 Sc.
► RANK cunning, wild, uncontrollable, mischievous → 1892 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► RUSÉ cunning, deceitful; given to ruses → 1689
► SCHEMISH cunning → 1980s African-American sl.
► SLEIGHTFUL cunning, crafty; full of craft or artifice; artful, dexterous → 1380 obs.
► SLIVERLY cunning, crafty, deceitful, knavish, artful → 1674 Eng. dial.
► SMEIGH cunning, clever → c1200 obs.
► STIR-WISE having the sort of cunning, patience, etc. instilled by imprisonment → 1930 US prison sl.
► SUBDOLOUS somewhat cunning, crafty, sly, artful, deceitful → 1588
► SUBTILE cunning, crafty, artful, sly → c1385
► SUBTLE cunning, crafty; treacherously or wickedly cunning; insidiously sly, wily → 1357 obs.
► TACKY cunning, tricky, hard to beat → 1950s W. Indies sl.
► TIGHT cunning, clever; dexterous, skilled, expert → 1669 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs.
► TODLY cunning, foxy, crafty → 1571 obs.
► ULYSSEAN cunning, deceitful, false; characteristic of or resembling Ulysses in craft or deceit, or in extensive wanderings → 1639
► UP TO ALL LURKS cunning, wide-awake → M19 Aust. & NZ sl.
► VAFROUS cunning, sly, crafty, shifty → a1548 obs.
► VARMENT ► VARMINT cunning, knowing, clever → 1829 sl., now Eng. dial.
► VERSUTILOQUENT talking cunningly or craftily → 1727
► VERSUTIOUS cunning, crafty, wily → 1660 obs.
► VETERATORIAN cunning, crafty, subtle, wily, sly, deceitful; gotten by long use, experienced → 1656 obs.
► VILE cunning, devilish → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► VULPINARY cunning, crafty, wily, artful, sly → 1721 obs.
► WARE cunning, prudent, sagacious, skilled → c888 obs.
► WARE AND WISE cunning, prudent, sagacious, skilled → c888 obs.
► YAP ► YAUP cunning, clever; shrewd, astute; nimble, active → a1300 chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► YARRY ► YARY cunning, sharp, wary; ready; smart, quick → 1842 Eng. dial.
► YEPE cunning, crafty, sly, wily → c1000 obs.

ADVERBS
► CRAFTFULLY in a cunning or crafty manner → 1335 obs.
► CRAFTLY cunningly; craftily; in a devious, wily, or shrewd manner → 1225 obs.
► DOWNILY cunningly, ingeniously → 1845 sl., obs.
► PRETTILY in a cunning or clever manner; ingeniously, skilfully → 1450 arch.
► SUBTILELY cunningly, craftily → c1385 obs.
► SUBTILLY cunningly, craftily → c1385 obs.
► SUBTLY cunningly, cleverly, dexterously, skilfully; ingeniously, artfully → c1350 arch.
► YEPLY cunningly, craftily; shrewdly, sagaciously → a900 obs.

NOUNS
► ABET cunning; fraud, wiles → c1315 obs.
► BACK-GATE cunning, deceitful action; immoral or degrading conduct → 1825 Sc.
► CALLIDITY cunning; craftiness → 1524
► COCUM ► COKUM ► KOCUM ► KOKUM cunning; good sense; cleverness, shrewdness → 1848 sl.
► CRAFT cunning; deception, guile; trickery → 1275
► CRAFTIHOOD craftiness, cunning → 1777 obs.
► CRAFTING crafty or cunning behaviour; deception; trickery → 1529 obs.
► DEAD-KNOWLEDGE cunning; deceitfulness → 1900 Ireland (Bk.)
► DEEPNESS deep cunning or subtlety → 1526 obs.
► DOWNINESS cunning, craftiness; a being alert, aware, or savvy → 1865 sl., orig. & chiefly Brit.
► FAR-CAST cunning; shrewdness, forethought; a casting one’s thoughts to a distance → c1400 obs.
► FAR-CASTING cunning; forethought → c1400 obs.
► FAR-FETCH a cunning stratagem → a1562 obs.
► FAVEL a personification of cunning or duplicity → 1362 obs.
► GUILING deceit; cunning → 1300 obs.
► HAVELON cunning, as of a fox; wile, guile; double-dealing → c1330 obs.
► LARRY cunning or deception; also, a deceptive remark → 1859 Amer. criminals’ sl.
► MANTICULATION cunning or deceitful conveyance → 1623 obs.
► OLDNESS cunning → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► PANURGY cunning; craftiness, deceit, guile, a meddling in all matters → 1656 obs.
► PAWKINESS cunning; shrewdness, slyness → 1839 Sc.
► QUAINTISE an instance of cunning, cleverness, or craft → 1297 obs.
► QUEEF cunning; a stratagem, a dodge, a trick; → 1923 Sc.
► SOPHISTRY cunning, trickery, craft → 1385 obs.
► SUBTILENESS cunning, craftiness, slyness → 1474 obs.
► SUBTILITY 1. cunning, craftiness → 1375 obs.
2. a cunning or crafty scheme; an artifice, a dodge → 1390 obs.
► SUBTILTY 1. cunning, craftiness, guile → c1374 obs.
2. a cunning or clever device, artifice, stratagem → c1386 obs.
► SUBTLETY a cunning or crafty device, artifice, a wily stratagem or trick, something craftily invented → 1375 obs.
► UNDERCRAFT hidden or secret cunning → c1400 obs.
► VAIDIE guileful cunning, subtlety → c1325 obs.
► WRINKLE a cunning trick, a clever device, or method, esp. a new one → 1738 colloq.

NOUNS – PERSON
► CAT a cunning, mean woman; a shrewish man → 1915 Amer. dial.
► CATBIRD a cunning, mischievous, or sly person → 1931 Amer. dial.
► CHINCHER a devious or cunning person; a trickster, a cheat → 1688 sl.
► CONNECTICUT YANKEE a very sharp and cunning person → 1889 Amer. dial.
► CRAFTSMASTER a master of cunning, deception, or trickery → 1717 obs.
► CRAFTY, THE people who are cunning, deceitful, or wily considered as a class → 1558
► DABBER MOLL a cunning woman; a sharper → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► DEAD-KNOWLEDGE MAN a cunning or deceitful man → 1900s Aust. sl.
► DOWNY a cunning or crafty person; a person who is aware, alert, or savvy → 1821 sl. obs., chiefly Brit.
► FAGEY a cunning, over-sharp person → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FILE a cunning or sharp fellow → 1837 sl.
► FLY MAN  a cunning man → 1816 sl.
► GIPSY a cunning, deceitful, or fickle woman → 1632
► GREEK a cunning or wily person; a cheat, a sharper,  especially one who cheats at cards → 1528
► HARAMI a cunning or shrewd person → 2003 India
► JACK a cunning, sly, or crafty fellow → 1797 (Bk.)
► KEEK a cunning, sly, or malicious person → 1832 Sc.
► KNOWING BLADE a cunning, sharp fellow → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
► LONGSHOE a cunning or sophisticated fellow, esp. a pimp or confidence swindler → 1955 US criminals’ sl.
► LURKIE a cunning, knowing, wide-awake person up to any trick → 1940s Aust. sl.
► MAN OF CRAFT  a cunning, crafty, or deceitful person → 1681
► OLD CAT  a cunning, mean woman; a shrewish man → 1915 Amer. dial.
► OLD FILE a cunning or sharp person → 1837 sl.
► OLD SOLDIER an experienced, but somewhat cunning man → 1781 sl.
► OLDEN ► OLDUN a cunning person; a wise or knowing person → 1897 Eng. dial.
► RUSÉE a cunning or sly woman → 1889
► SACCULARIAN a cunning person → 1652 obs.
► SHNIDE ► SNIDE a cunning person; an untrustworthy person; a contemptible person; an informer → 1950 UK sl.
► SHREWD-HEAD a cunning, shrewd, or sly person → 1916 Aust. & NZ sl.
► SHREWDIE ► SHREWDY a cunning or shrewd person → 1935 NZ sl.
► SLY-BAG a cunning person → 1953 Aust. sl.
► SLY-BOOTS a cunning, sly, or crafty person → a1700 colloq.
► SLY-CAP a cunning or sly person → 1681 obs.
► SLYPUSS a cunning or deceitful girl → 1942
► TASTRILL a cunning rogue, a rascal → 1892 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► TICKLER a cunning, shrewd person or animal; a difficult person to  deal with → 1887 Sc.
► TRICKY VICKI a cunning girl → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► TWICER a cunning or deceitful person → 1924 sl.
► VOLPONE a cunning schemer or miser; a hoarder of wealth → 1710 obs.
► WILY-PIE a cunning or crafty fellow; a sly rogue → c1450 obs.
► WISE-HEAD a cunning or intelligent person → 1919 Aust. services’ sl. (Bk.)

PHRASES
► HE HAS AS MUCH WIT AS THREE FOLKS, TWO FOOLS AND A MADMAN he’s a fool, but he’s also rather cunning → 17C
► HE’S TOO FAR NORTH FOR ME he’s too cunning for me → 1748 sl.

VERBS
► BE AS DEEP AS GARRICK to be very cunning → 1889 Eng. dial.
► COON to act in a cunning or sly manner → 1958 Amer. dial.
► CRAFT to act craftily; to use cunning or deception; to scheme → 1530 obs.
► HAVELON to be cunning; to act cunningly → a1300 obs.
► MACHIAVELIZE to practice cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct → 1611 obs.
► MACHIAVELLIANIZE to practice cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct → 1656 obs.
► MACK to use one’s cunning to advantage → 1991 Amer. sl.
► PLAY THE FOX to act cunningly → 1647
► WORK THE ORACLE to successfully perform something through cunning and stealth or with the aid of an outright lie → 20C Brit. sl.