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Learn the meaning, synonyms, and usage of the adjective sly, which can describe someone who is clever, devious, or mischievous. Find out the origin and history of the word sly, and see how it is used in sentences and phrases.
noun. uk / slaɪ / us / slaɪ / on the sly. If you do something on the sly, you do it secretly because you should not be doing it: He drives his mother's car on the sly while she's at work. See more. (Definition of sly from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
Sly can be an adjective meaning deceiving or secretive, or a noun meaning doing something on the sly. Learn how to use sly in different contexts with examples from various sources.
Find synonyms and antonyms of sly, a word that means clever, shady, or mischievous. Learn how to use sly and its related words in different contexts and see examples of each meaning.
- 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...
- 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 sophisticat...
- 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 ci...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ma...
- 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
adjective. comparative: slyer or slier [slahy, -er],superlative: slyest or sliest [slahy, -ist]. cunning or wily: sly as a fox. Synonyms: astute, shrewd, crafty, foxy, subtle, artful. Antonyms: obvious, direct. stealthy, insidious, or secret. Synonyms: clandestine, underhand, furtive, surreptitious. playfully artful, mischievous, or roguish:
4 days ago · Learn the meaning and usage of the adjective sly, which can describe someone or something as clever, secretive, or mischievous. Find synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and pronunciation of sly in British and American English.
Definitions of sly. adjective. marked by skill in deception. “ sly as a fox”. synonyms: crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, tricksy, tricky, wily. artful. marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft. Pronunciation. US.
