guile

[gahyl]

noun

1. insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

   Synonyms: craft, fraud, trickery

guile

/ ɡaɪl /

noun

1. clever or crafty character or behaviour

Other Word Forms

• guilefully adverb
• guileful adjective
• guilefulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guile¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Germanic; akin to wile

Word History and Origins

Origin of guile¹

C18: from Old French guile, of Germanic origin; see _wile

Synonym Study

See duplicity.

Example Sentences

He doesn’t overpower opponents the way he could in his prime, relying more on consistent command, pitch sequencing and veteran guile to post a 9-2 record and 3.06 ERA in 17 starts this year.

From Los Angeles Times

A style built on keeping possession sometimes lacks punch and guile.

From BBC

"He brings experience and guile," batter Harry Brook told BBC Sport.

From BBC

Instead, Kershaw has shown flashes of the pitcher who won three Cy Young Awards in four seasons, though now he gets by on guile and guts more than curveballs and sliders.

From Los Angeles Times

They now face the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Wednesday after a performance full of class, style, guile and fight.

From BBC

Related Words

• trickery