variants
also cagy
1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cagey
Exceptions finally arrived with the emergence of Max Cervantes as slick and cagey defense lawyer Billy Flynn.
—
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
On the bright side, this is one of those rare moments of transparency that is quite uncommon for a typically disciplined and cagey administration obsessed with controlling the narrative around the governor’s executive prowess.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
With one year left on his deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, James has been cagey — arguably coy — over his future plans.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
In May 1961, Welch alleged that a CBS reporter had used underhanded tactics to interview him against his wishes, resulting in footage that made the Birch leader look cagey and defensive.
—Time, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
On the bright side, this is one of those rare moments of transparency that is quite uncommon for a typically disciplined and cagey administration obsessed with controlling the narrative around the governor’s executive prowess.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
With one year left on his deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, James has been cagey — arguably coy — over his future plans.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
In May 1961, Welch alleged that a CBS reporter had used underhanded tactics to interview him against his wishes, resulting in footage that made the Birch leader look cagey and defensive.
—Time, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cagey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cagey
Adjective
-
In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.—
Neringa Klumbytė,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The three-time MVP center has never been reluctant to share his honest outlook on Denver’s successes and failures.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
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Investors reluctant to buy more government debt against a backdrop of rising inflation demanded a higher yield, according to media reports.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Marvin’s a cute little mushroom living in a cozy home beneath a mighty cedar tree.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Dry off and look cute at the same time with Katydid beach or gym towels.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Employers, already hesitant to hire before the war, will likely become even more cautious due to uncertainty about energy prices and consumer spending, Horsley says.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
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So, when there’s conversation around how these language models are being trained, for instance, people are hesitant to talk about the reality of what’s going on.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even though researchers have found no evidence that contemporary populations use one hemisphere of the brain any more than the other, every part of this picture is presented with slick confidence.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
With water constantly dripping from above, the surface was slick and unstable.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Another camera, an eye tuned to the subtle strangeness of an otherwise ordinary day—someone or something, somewhere, must have caught a glimmer of the truth.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Vice President Vance, who is considered an isolationist, expressed private skepticism ahead of the attacks, and his relative silence during the first weeks of the war was perceived as a subtle way of distancing himself from the conflict.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cagey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cagey. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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