English Dictionary

Definition of “crafty

crafty (ˈkrɑːftɪPronunciation for crafty

Definitions

adjective

Word forms: craftier, craftiest
  1. skilled in deception; shrewd; cunning
  2. archaic skilful

Alternative Forms

ˈcraftily adverb ˈcraftiness noun

Usage examples

  • She struck me as being much like her husband: crafty and cocky but nowhere near so smart as she thought she was.
    MacLeod, Charlotte, Something in the Water (1994)
  • Captains come in all shapes and sizes, from Arjuna the crafty to Hansie the implacable.
    India Today (1999)
  • The crafty Cuban beat many of the top fighters of his era, including Johnny Bratton, to win the crown in 1951.
    Toronto Sun (2003)
  • Then crafty Gustav rooted around in his kitchen for more junk to replace the first lot.
    Sun, News of the World (2004)
  • Either the search was too cursory or the Afghans were too crafty for the officers, who responded by cautioning them with a little lecture.
    James Fergusson, KANDAHAR COCKNEY: A Tale of Two Worlds (2004)

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