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

Examples 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 As always, the remaining contestants were tasked with singing various Cyrus hits, and the hints all featured sly connections between the masks and the Hannah Montana star. —

Lauren Huff, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2024 While the subject matter is stressful, Torres uses surrealist imagery and humor to infuse a sense of sly joy into this tale about traversing the harrowing hurdles of the immigration system. —

Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024 Distinguished violinists from Joseph Szigeti to Hilary Hahn have tackled the Fourth Sonata, yet Jackiw sets a new standard, running the gamut from boisterous fiddling to solitary chant, with sly parodies of overcooked Romanticism along the way. —

Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 Is Aubrey Plaza’s self-consciously vampy, campy performance a sly part of the film’s nutty design? —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sly

Adjective

Dawson plays Maritza Cruz, a high-end celebrity attorney, pulled into a headline-making case involving Fatima, a cunning young waitress who is accused of serial poisoning and murdering 28 people.

Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
Since then, Putin has sought instead to rally the public to the defense of a motherland besieged by the perfidious and cunning West.

Leon Aron, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024