SLY Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sly' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sly are artful , crafty , cunning , foxy , slick , tricky , and wily . While all these words 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

Q: Where would 'artful' be a reasonable alternative to 'sly'?

The words artful and sly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness. // elicited the information by artful questioning

Q: When could 'crafty' be used to replace 'sly'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sly , crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. // a crafty lefthander

Q: In what contexts can 'cunning' take the place of 'sly'?

While the synonyms cunning and sly are close in meaning, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing. // the cunning fox avoided the trap

Q: When is it sensible to use 'foxy' instead of 'sly'?

The synonyms foxy and sly are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. // a foxy publicity man planting stories

Q: When is 'slick' a more appropriate choice than 'sly'?

In some situations, the words slick and sly are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. // slick operators selling time-sharing

Q: When might 'tricky' be a better fit than 'sly'?

Although the words tricky and sly have much in common, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering. // a tricky political operative

Q: When would 'wily' be a good substitute for 'sly'?

The meanings of wily and sly largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. // the wily fugitive escaped the posse

sly

adjective

ˈslī

Definition of sly next

as in cunning

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shady

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions why, you sly fellow! I had no idea you were planning my birthday party a sly undercover police officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mischievous

tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness a sly sense of humor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sly distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sly are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, tricky, and wily. While all these words 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

Where would artful be a reasonable alternative to sly?

The words artful and sly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When could crafty be used to replace sly?

While in some cases nearly identical to sly, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

In what contexts can cunning take the place of sly?

While the synonyms cunning and sly are close in meaning, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When is it sensible to use foxy instead of sly?

The synonyms foxy and sly are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than sly?

In some situations, the words slick and sly are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When might tricky be a better fit than sly?

Although the words tricky and sly have much in common, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for sly?

The meanings of wily and sly largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 sly Thankfully, though, Hammel keeps all of her film’s moving parts intact, reveling in distaste with a sly smile and a winking grin. —

Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024 Faithfull’s high, sly vocals may have more in common with Peggy Seeger’s woodsy original, but the ornate track also contains a poignant, slow-motion soulfulness that made Roberta Flack’s version a hit several years later. —

A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025 This isn’t a sly spy carrying out a covert operation; this is a spy whose careful plans have been overtaken by events. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025 The humor is more sly and subtle than, say, Only Murders in the Building, but Bodkin is nonetheless a quirky gem of a series, with a colorful setting filled with likable, eccentric characters. —

Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly

Adjective

Another male ally to the women’s crimes is Walter (Elijah Wood), a fellow citizen detective of Misty’s who uses his wealth and cunning to bury Shauna’s murder case once and for all.

— Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025
China has been especially cunning in building influence among developing countries.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025