canniness

noun

Definition of canninessnext
1
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters negotiates business deals with all of the proverbial canniness of an old-time horse trader

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the canniness with which she negotiated her contract as spokesperson for the shoe manufacturer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canniness
  1. intelligence
  2. cunning
  3. wit
  4. subtlety
  5. acumen
Noun
  • Today, such a contest would be made all the more unpredictable given the complexity and ambiguity of measuring progress toward something so abstract as intelligence.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
  • The second episode illustrates the scope of the resources and intelligence operation required to identify and attempt to hunt him down.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • Known for his slow, methodical in-ring style and chilling promos, Roberts played a brilliant heel, often manipulating opponents with his cunning.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The movie’s costume designer Tom Broecker says the change highlights the lethal cunning that lurks below the character’s beauty.
    Alexandra Willingham, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • With sly wit and improbable empathy, the show simultaneously scrutinizes the arrogance of the traditional medical establishment and the presumptions and false promises of the wellness industry.
    Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
  • Even when her efforts didn’t pay off, the sharpness of her wit and her talent for character building were still rewarding to watch.
    Ilana Kaplan, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2024
Definition of wit
Noun
  • Their attitudes about the direction of the country also creates frictions in their friendship, a poignant emotional thread that the filmmaker approaches with admirable subtlety.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Long bitcoin Billionaire investors appear to have already grasped bitcoin’s subtleties and its potential as a hedge against inflation.
    Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Definition of subtlety
Noun
  • The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.
    Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com, al, 20 Jan. 2023
  • But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
    Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Definition of acumen
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near canniness

cannily

canniness

canning

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...