1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
why, you sly fellow! I had no idea you were planning my birthday party a sly undercover police officer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a sly sense of humor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in subtlety
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
the slyness with which the FBI agent infiltrated the subversive organization without their knowledge was indeed impressive
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sly
Nina Metz, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
The best part of the sketch isn’t its sly picture of Gen X’s slow fade into conformity, but Jason Sudeikis as the groom’s father who is unironically into the performance.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
Charlie Shackleton’s sly film Zodiac Killer Project lives inside this conceptual limbo — nebulously sinister and dryly hilarious all at once.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
Audiences savored White’s scathing dialogue, actor Jennifer Coolidge’s tragicomic performance as the emotionally indigent heiress Tanya McQuoid, and the show’s sly insights into how money comes to shape our every relationship.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sly
Adjective
Under showrunner Rolin Jones, the adaptation of Anne Rice’s novels is richly written, thrillingly inhabited by its cast and so effortlessly funny with a framing device — the interview of the title — that is thick with intrigue and sly comedy.
—Nina Metz, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
The best part of the sketch isn’t its sly picture of Gen X’s slow fade into conformity, but Jason Sudeikis as the groom’s father who is unironically into the performance.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
Charlie Shackleton’s sly film Zodiac Killer Project lives inside this conceptual limbo — nebulously sinister and dryly hilarious all at once.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
Audiences savored White’s scathing dialogue, actor Jennifer Coolidge’s tragicomic performance as the emotionally indigent heiress Tanya McQuoid, and the show’s sly insights into how money comes to shape our every relationship.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly
Adjective
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Reading it, one is reminded, once again, that Trump is a politician who is cunning but semiliterate and ignorant.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2025
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Sign up The abusive couple were cunning, said Allison Pearson in The Daily Telegraph.—
The Week UK,
theweek,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And not in a shady way and not to tear her down as a person.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Months of fighting the rape claims in federal court in NYC and failing to get the matter tossed out saw a lot of bitter finger pointing with claims of bribery, shady probes and lying from all sides, to varying degrees.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Michelle Trachtenberg's fans are remembering her in one of her most mischievous roles.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
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Addressing his health issues and impact of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the film showcases the central role music continues to play in Ozzy’s life, also proving his mischievous sense of humor remains resolutely intact, despite it all.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Along with the basics, Snow is guiding Eldridge on the subtleties of the position: bunts, relays, cutoffs, positioning.—
Justice delos Santos,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The coach’s delivery came with all the subtlety of a jackhammer.—
Nick Kosmider,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In December 2024, the brand opened a cute hut that could have been plucked out of a Disney cartoon on the beach of the St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
9 Mar. 2025
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Okay, but how cute is Meghan’s dog, Guy? Love him!!!!—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This week’s schedule is loaded, with a half-dozen national TV looks and a few sneaky bangers on League Pass.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Timothy's partner-in-crime, Kenny, was revealed to be Ke Huy Quan in a sneaky cameo in Sunday's episode.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In the years leading up to his voice work for the wicked prince hoping to woo Fiona, Everett worked as a writer, playwright and TV presenter.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
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Hackman was great at playing bad guys, too: no one’s chuckle was more unnervingly, thrillingly wicked.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Superyacht designers have begun to navigate the cultural preferences of their clientele by redefining yacht interiors in subtle but significant ways.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
2 Mar. 2025
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These devices are more precise and subtle than old fashioned metal detectors, using specific sensitivity settings and artificial intelligence to detect hidden weapons as opposed to harmless items such as keys and phones, allowing people to enter facilities with very little delay.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sly. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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