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   Sly

   /slī/

   

   adjective

   • 1. having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature: "she had a sly personality" Similar cunningcraftycleverwilyartfulguilefultrickyconnivingschemingdeviousdesigningdeceitfulduplicitousdishonestdisingenuousunderhandsneakyuntrustworthymanipulativecalculatingMachiavellianinformal:foxyshiftyflyshonkyslimarchaic:subtlerare:carnyOpposite honestartless
   • ▪ (of a remark, glance, or facial expression) showing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing: "he gave a sly grin" Similar roguishmischievousimpishpuckishplayfulteasingnaughtywickedwaggisharchknowinginformal:pawky
   • ▪ (of an action) surreptitious: "a sly sip of water" Similar surreptitiousfurtivestealthycovertsecret

   Word Origin Middle English (also in the sense ‘dexterous’): from Old Norse slœgr ‘cunning’, originally ‘able to strike’ from the verb slá; compare with sleight.

   Derivatives

   • 1. slyness noun

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • S

     1

   • L

     1

   • Y

     4

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