crafty

[kraf-tee, krahf-]

adjective

craftier, craftiest 

1. skillful in underhand or evil schemes; cunning; deceitful; sly.

   Synonyms: scheming, designing, tricky, wily

2. Obsolete.,  skillful; ingenious; dexterous.

crafty

/ ˈkrɑːftɪ /

adjective

1. skilled in deception; shrewd; cunning

2. archaic,  skilful

Other Word Forms

• craftily adverb
• craftiness noun
• quasi-craftily adverb
• quasi-crafty adjective
• uncraftily adverb
• uncraftiness noun
• uncrafty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crafty¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English cræftig skilled. See craft, -y ¹

Example Sentences

As he has aged, and his velocity has dipped, Kershaw has become more of a crafty left-hander.

From Los Angeles Times

Muncy did have some rust to knock off, going hitless in three at-bats with a walk and strikeout in his first game back Monday night against crafty Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray.

From Los Angeles Times

For the crafty couple, home renovations are their love language.

From Los Angeles Times

On one side stood Webb, the crafty and relentless All-Star right-hander who has largely dominated the Dodgers in his seven-year career.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite producing her best performance in "a long time" against the crafty Czech, Raducanu knew she still had a gap to bridge with the very best - and Sabalenka is the leading marker.

From BBC

Related Words

• astute 
• cagey 
• canny 
• devious 
• insidious 
• shrewd 
• slick 
• sly 
• wily