wily

[ wahy-lee ]

adjective

, wil·i·er, wil·i·est.

1. full of, marked by, or proceeding from wiles; crafty; cunning.

   Synonyms: treacherous, deceitful, foxy, tricky, designing, sly, artful

   Antonyms: open, straightforward

wily

/ ˈwaɪlɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or proceeding from wiles; sly or crafty

Derived Forms

• ˈwiliness, noun

Other Words From

• wili·ly adverb
• wili·ness noun
• over·wily adjective
• un·wily adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wily¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; wile, -y ¹

Example Sentences

But for Grace Pudel, the human protagonist of director Adam Elliot’s wily, melancholy new animated feature “Memoir of a Snail,” that gastropod is a symbol of the life she’s resigned herself to.

From Los Angeles Times

Many people find gulls’ “wily” behaviors entertaining, Blight adds, and they’re a star of many memes.

From Salon

“He loves the attention, I can tell you that,” Kent says, grinning, of her wily creation.

From Los Angeles Times

Wide-eyed, wild-haired, and disheveled, Keaton's crusty trickster still invokes the patron demon of late-stage crack addiction, bringing with him the same wily unpredictability that made him such a hoot last time.

From Salon

Embarking on a new chapter of her career, Bates’ character joins a prestigious law firm, “where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cagey
• crooked
• scheming
• shifty
• shrewd
• sly
• sneaky
• underhanded