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
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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
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Recent Examples of canny
But that spontaneity is balanced out with canny studio manipulation by producer Scotty Hard, who juxtaposes grooves and riffs and knits songs together, finding through lines and punctuating disjunctions.
—
Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Cubs made some canny moves in the offseason, and just signed budding superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term contract extension.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Nod to the menswear mood of backless loafers with traditional tailoring that has equally canny updates.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Cubs made some canny moves in the offseason, and just signed budding superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term contract extension.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Nod to the menswear mood of backless loafers with traditional tailoring that has equally canny updates.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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Semi-custom is, of course, cheaper and quicker to build than full bespoke, making a smart, low-stress entry point into yacht ownership.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 May 2026
-
Niko Medved is very smart, very clever at using that zone.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Brunson scored eight points in his first 12 minutes and looked comfortable almost immediately.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The family documents describe comfortable lives and prosperous businesses blown apart by the war and the mounting Nazi menace.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Flyers' 1-0 Game 6 overtime victory over the Penguins on Wednesday night served as early validation that general manager Danny Briere was astute in orchestrating an overdue rebuild and the payoff was a first playoff series win in a full NHL season since 2012.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Michelle is floating through life until a surprising connection with a high schooler challenges her friendship with her overbearing best friend, in this bitingly astute and exceptionally hilarious satire.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It is made of super-smooth satin fabric that feels great against the skin and features a relaxed fit that won’t bunch up.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
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If BofA is relatively sanguine about aggregate job creation, other economists have been notably less relaxed about distribution.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Ironically, many donors facing this once-in-a-generation wealth transfer have spent decades making shrewd investment decisions to build their fortunes, only to dispatch their final philanthropic gifts with comparatively little scrutiny.—
Ed Smith-Lewis,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
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Taylor did not show up, which was a shrewd move.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, which both include Peacock Premium in their membership.—
Erin Lassner,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2026
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Enter James Madison transfer Alonza Barnett III, a savvy, dangerous dual-threat quarterback who reminds Milton of himself — then and now.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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