guile

[ gahyl ]

noun

1. insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

   Synonyms: craft, fraud, trickery

guile

/ ɡaɪl /

noun

1. clever or crafty character or behaviour

Derived Forms

• ˈguilefully, adverb
• ˈguileful, adjective
• ˈguilefulness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guile¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Germanic; akin to wile

Word History and Origins

Origin of guile¹

C18: from Old French guile, of Germanic origin; see wile

Synonym Study

See duplicity.

Example Sentences

As captain at right-back Smith showed his experience and guile, he was excellent.

From BBC

He seems to have the temperament not to be cowed, the question will be whether he has the skill, guile and craft to do the job that will be required.

From BBC

It was a journey into an alternative universe of political guile from a president who just six days earlier had approved sending $20 billion worth of more weapons to Israel.

From Salon

Ricciardo started fourth, his best performance by far in a season that has been difficult for the Australian so far, but used all his guile and experience to hold off Sainz and Piastri.

From BBC

Rachel Corsie's shift to midfield - on her 150th cap - added enough guile to get Scotland into better positions than they managed out in Serbia, and Howard again proved her worth in the box.

From BBC

Related Words

• trickery