guileful

[ gahyl-fuhl ]

adjective

1. insidiously cunning; artfully deceptive; wily.

Other Words From

• guileful·ly adverb
• guileful·ness noun
• un·guileful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of guileful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; guile, -ful

Example Sentences

She was preternaturally animated and demonstrative at the station—your sex's little guileful way ever since the world began.

From Project Gutenberg

Loki became guileful from that wicked woman; thence in the world are all giantesses come.

From Project Gutenberg

There drank the courtiers wine in their Valhall—but the guileful ones silence kept—the Huns' wrath they feared.

From Project Gutenberg

And now will I do so no more, lest I become a guileful woman, with nought good in me save the fairness of my body.

From Project Gutenberg

As he outlined his guileful proposition the scowls of his listeners gave way to grins of full approval and admiration.

From Project Gutenberg