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Craftiness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Craftiness is the quality of being clever, sly, or deceitful, often to achieve one’s goals through cunning or trickery. It implies skill in deception or manipulation.

craftiness

/ˈkræftinəs/ /ˈkrɑːftinəs/

Definition:

Skill in achieving goals through deceit or cleverness.

Synonyms:

cunning, slyness, guile, deceitfulness

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

honesty, straightforwardness

Common Collocations:

sheer craftiness, political craftiness, display craftiness, use craftiness

Derivatives:

crafty, craftily

Usage Tips:

Use "craftiness" to describe clever but deceptive behavior, often with a negative connotation.

Common Phrases:

fox-like craftiness, the craftiness of a serpent, full of craftiness

Etymology:

Derived from Old English "cræftig," meaning skillful or powerful; evolved to imply cunning by the 16th century.

Examples:

  • 1. Her craftiness helped her win the game unfairly.
  • 2. The politician’s craftiness was evident in his misleading promises.
  • 3. He admired her craftiness but distrusted her motives.
  • 4. The thief’s craftiness allowed him to evade capture for years.

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