slyer also slier ˈslī(-ə)r How to pronounce sly (audio) ; slyest also sliest ˈslī-əst How to pronounce sly (audio)
1
chiefly dialectal
a
: wise in practical affairs
b
: displaying cleverness : ingenious
2
a
: clever in concealing one's aims or ends : furtive
b
: lacking in straightforwardness and candor : dissembling
3
: lightly mischievous : roguish
a sly jest
slyly adverb
or less commonly slily
She slyly evaded the question.
slyness noun
Phrases
on the sly
: in a manner intended to avoid notice
Choose the Right Synonym for sly

sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means.

sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

Examples of sly in a Sentence

the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop why, you sly fellow! I had no idea you were planning my birthday party
Recent Examples on the Web That’s not to say that Bates identifies entirely with her sly character. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 11 Sep. 2024 He is keyed into this sly figure’s antics and confidently channels his hunger for making a quick buck, but is less convincing when required to tune into more subtle registers. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2024 But the women find a sly way around the restriction. Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2019 Manic and magical in a way that makes the banality of its final moments all the more crushing to witness, the episode crystallizes the spirit of perseverance that runs through Suleiman’s entire body of work, its every sly joke and slice of joy an act of rebellion unto itself. Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sly 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sleighe, sli, from Old Norse slœgr; akin to Old English slēan to strike — more at slay

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sly was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sly

Cite this Entry

“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sly. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

sly

adjective
slier or slyer ˈslī(-ə)r How to pronounce sly (audio) ; sliest or slyest ˈslī-əst How to pronounce sly (audio)
1
a
: clever at hiding one's goals or purpose
b
: tending to secrecy or concealment
2
: lightly mischievous
a sly smile
slyly adverb
slyness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sly

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