adjective
crafty
KRAHF-tee
adjective
1
Clever in a sly or deceptive way; skilled at tricking others.
"The crafty fox slipped past the guard dogs unnoticed."
"She used a crafty bit of negotiation to lower the price."
How to Use Crafty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClever in a scheming or sneaky way, not necessarily dishonest but often implying trickery.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "crafted" (made skillfully) — crafty describes a person's cunning, not an object.
Common pairings
crafty fox
crafty plan
crafty old man
Word Forms
craftier comparative, craftiest superlative
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The _____ fox slipped past the guard dogs unnoticed.
Etymology
From Old English cræftig ("skilful, powerful"), from the same root as craft — the meaning gradually shifted from general skill to cunning.