Crafty - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Crafty means clever in a cunning or deceitful way, often using tricks to achieve goals. It can describe someone who is sly or skillful in manipulating situations.
Definition:
Clever at achieving goals through deceit or cunning.
Synonyms:
cunning, sly, wily, shrewd, artful
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
honest, straightforward, guileless
Common Collocations:
crafty plan, crafty smile, crafty trick, crafty politician
Derivatives:
craftiness, craftily
Usage Tips:
Use "crafty" to describe someone clever but often dishonest in achieving their aims.
Common Phrases:
crafty as a fox, crafty old devil, play a crafty game
Etymology:
From Old English "cræftig," meaning strong or skillful; evolved to imply cunning cleverness.
Examples:
- 1. The fox was too crafty to be caught in the trap.
- 2. She gave him a crafty smile before revealing her plan.
- 3. His crafty tactics helped him win the chess match easily.
- 4. The thief used a crafty disguise to avoid detection.