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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here are six real books coming out this week, with dust jackets that reflect their real contents: mysteries and mishaps, often told with a sly smirk. Colin Dwyer, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025 In a perfectly coifed wig, with a sly smile and endless witticisms, Snook takes on 26 different roles across the show's nearly two hour runtime. Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025 These are the intriguing ideas at work in Secret Mall Apartment, but the film works as a movie thanks to the sly way it’s been put together. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025 Saxon looks stunned, but his younger bro wears a sly smile. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sly

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sly. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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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