Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The quality or character of being crafty; artfulness; dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose; cunning; artifice; stratagem.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose; cunning; artifice; stratagem.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Skill in deception, slyness

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
  • noun the quality of being crafty

Etymologies

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Examples

  • "Written on the Wind," for all its craftiness, is only a glossy soaper; it doesn't touch my heart, though it does tickle my funnybone.

    Fancy paints on memory's canvas/Scenes that we hold dear Matthew Guerrieri 2008

  • Johanna's knitting and general craftiness is a good fit for Bramble Berry and we are thrilled to have her indie cool sensibilities in our midst.

    Archive 2007-10-01 Anne-Marie 2007

  • Johanna's knitting and general craftiness is a good fit for Bramble Berry and we are thrilled to have her indie cool sensibilities in our midst.

    She's way too cool Anne-Marie 2007

  • Such things the apostle did not allow of, but did renounce and avoid with indignation: Not walking in craftiness, or in disguise, acting with art and cunning, but in great simplicity, and with open freedom.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • Either Runcible knew of their efforts and quietly endorsed them—in which case he was a screeching hypocrite—or else they acted without his knowledge, in which case his craftiness was a sham and he lived in quiet ignorance.

    Sir Apropos of Nothing PETER DAVID 2001

  • Either Runcible knew of their efforts and quietly endorsed them—in which case he was a screeching hypocrite—or else they acted without his knowledge, in which case his craftiness was a sham and he lived in quiet ignorance.

    Sir Apropos of Nothing PETER DAVID 2001

  • Either Runcible knew of their efforts and quietly endorsed them—in which case he was a screeching hypocrite—or else they acted without his knowledge, in which case his craftiness was a sham and he lived in quiet ignorance.

    Sir Apropos of Nothing PETER DAVID 2001

  • As regards what he may do lawfully, a man can employ either lawful means, and such as are adapted to the end in view, which belongs to prudence; or he can use unlawful means, unsuitable to the proposed end, and this belongs to craftiness, which is exercised by fraud and guile, as shown above (Q. 55, AA. 3, seqq.).

    Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas

  • But of course, this is just what we should expect from Clinton and her politics of 'craftiness'.

    Obama camp out with new gas tax ad, Clinton camp fires back 2008

  • Therefore fraud does not belong to craftiness which is opposed to prudence.

    Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas

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