1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of canny
His publishers packaged the incomplete Love of the Last Tycoon with a reprint of The Great Gatsby, a canny move that reminded the literary world just how great Fitzgerald was at his best and primed the larger public to remember his name.
—
Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Mar. 2025
Far easier to invent a Trump who isn’t there, a canny savant whose policy lurches are driven by some unseen strategic logic.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2025
Analysts, including some close to the royal court, said a canny Saudi strategy to cultivate relations beyond the United States during the years of strain with the Biden administration had paid off in the U.S.-Russia talks on Tuesday.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Nice white parents enroll their children; protests break out when a bougie juice bar threatens to replace an old-school deli; and Principal Ava (Janelle James), always a canny operator, helps her team blackmail the developer out of some fancy new computers for the kids.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Mar. 2025
Far easier to invent a Trump who isn’t there, a canny savant whose policy lurches are driven by some unseen strategic logic.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2025
Analysts, including some close to the royal court, said a canny Saudi strategy to cultivate relations beyond the United States during the years of strain with the Biden administration had paid off in the U.S.-Russia talks on Tuesday.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Nice white parents enroll their children; protests break out when a bougie juice bar threatens to replace an old-school deli; and Principal Ava (Janelle James), always a canny operator, helps her team blackmail the developer out of some fancy new computers for the kids.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
-
Body scale: on sale for $79.95 Original price: $99.95 This smart scale measures weight, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, and water percentage.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Generic 20ft Prefabricated Expandable House $16,999 at Amazon With nearly 400 square feet of space, this tiny house features a smart layout that makes use of every inch.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The skies are clear, the humidity is lower and the temperatures are comfortable, especially in northern regions like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
People who won’t feel comfortable going to the Kennedy Center can still come to my show.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Pelosi, 84, is serving her 20th term representing her San Francisco district in Congress and is seen by many as one of the most astute and impressive American political leaders in modern times.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Andrews' nuanced design of P.L. Travers' creation is an astute, mellifluous, and delightfully intimidating creature of talent and propriety — and as the world would realize, so, too, was Andrews.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Baggy jeans have claimed their place in the fashion world as a comfortable, versatile garment that bridges the gap between relaxed and elegant.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2025
-
While the lifestyle guru isn’t the first A-lister to break out the relaxed pants style in recent weeks — Jennifer Garner wore a similar pair while out in Los Angeles last month — her lightweight linen take on the trend makes so much sense for spring and summer.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
These people painted a picture of a shrewd capitalist, making practical calculations to protect his businesses.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Their shrewd negotiators would undoubtedly invoke American precedent to subdivide their political entities.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Utilizing savvy travel products like compression packing cubes, three-in-one foldable chargers, and a roomy personal item bag goes a long way.—
Hannah Freedman,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The Wave would welcome another 90-minute show of savvy, ball skill and stamina from French midfielder Kenza Dali.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share