Cunning Meaning

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Meaning of the Word
Cunning refers to the ability to achieve goals through cleverness, craftiness, or deceit. It can also describe someone who is skillful at using their wits to manipulate or deceive others.

Definitions and Meaning in English

  1. The skill to achieve something by using cleverness or trickery, often in a deceptive manner.
  2. Showing or having skill in achieving one’s aims by deceitful or clever means.
  3. The quality of being shrewd, crafty, or sly in dealing with others.
  4. Attractive or charming in an innocent or playful way, often used in a more positive sense.

History and Origin
The word “cunning” comes from the Middle English word cunning, derived from the Old English cunnian, meaning “to know” or “to be skilled.” It originally referred to knowledge or skill but gradually took on a more negative connotation related to trickery and deceit. Over time, the meaning expanded to include both positive (skillful or clever) and negative (deceptive or sly) interpretations, depending on context.

Detailed Explanation
Cunning is a complex word that can refer to both positive and negative qualities. In a negative sense, it refers to the use of deceitful or sly methods to achieve one’s goals. A cunning person might manipulate situations or people for personal gain or out of malice. However, it can also describe someone who is simply clever or skillful in solving problems or navigating difficult situations. In this positive sense, cunning can be associated with resourcefulness, adaptability, and intelligence. The word is often used to describe behavior that is clever but might raise moral questions about ethics or honesty.

Example Sentences

  1. The thief was known for his cunning, always finding ways to slip past security unnoticed.
  2. She used her cunning to outwit her competitors and win the game.
  3. The fox is often portrayed as a symbol of cunning in fables and folklore.
  4. His cunning plan to save the company involved some risky but clever strategies.
  5. The politician’s cunning manipulation of public opinion helped him win the election.
  6. With her cunning, she managed to convince them that the deal was in their best interest.
  7. His cunning smile made it clear that he had something up his sleeve.
  8. The cat’s cunning allowed it to outsmart the dog and escape the yard.
  9. They were both impressed by her cunning ability to solve complex puzzles.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

  1. Clever: Quick to understand or devise things, often with skill and ingenuity.
  2. Sly: Sneaky and deceitful, often used to describe someone who is cunning in a negative way.
  3. Crafty: Skillful in achieving something through tricky or deceitful methods.
  4. Devious: Using dishonest or indirect methods to achieve something.
  5. Wily: Full of clever tricks, especially to deceive or manipulate others.

Related Words with Short Explanation

  1. Scheming: The act of making secret plans, often with deceitful or selfish intentions.
  2. Manipulative: The ability to influence or control others cleverly and often unfairly.
  3. Trickery: The use of deception to achieve something, often a key element of cunning.
  4. Shrewd: Having sharp judgment and intelligence, sometimes used in a positive sense of cunning.
  5. Machiavellian: A term describing cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous behavior, especially in politics.

More Matches with Short Explanation

  1. Deceitful: Characterized by misleading or dishonestly influencing others, similar to cunning in a negative sense.
  2. Cleverness: The quality of being quick to understand and skillful, sometimes related to cunning.
  3. Finesse: The skill to handle situations delicately and subtly, often involving cleverness or tact.
  4. Conning: The act of deceiving someone for personal gain, similar to cunning in its deceptive use.
  5. Subterfuge: A tactic used to achieve a goal through trickery or deception, often linked to cunning behavior.

Antonyms

  1. Honesty: The quality of being truthful and transparent, the opposite of cunning’s deceitfulness.
  2. Innocence: The state of being free from guilt or deceit, contrasting with cunning’s slyness.
  3. Naivety: Lack of experience or wisdom, especially in understanding deceit, the opposite of being cunning.
  4. Sincerity: The quality of being genuine or authentic, unlike the deceitful nature of cunning.
  5. Openness: The quality of being clear and transparent, in contrast to the secretive nature of cunning.

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