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

A subtle but inescapable analogy is made between the wily devil and the guileful woman.

From Los Angeles Times

The game still features plenty of lung-burning rallies, but there is much more action now in the front of the court — more drop shots and guileful flicks.

From New York Times

And however much they played and were children, still their faces were scored with the knowledge and cares that children should not have, their eyes were knowing and guileful beyond their years.

From Literature

Equally enjoyable is the pleasure, borrowed from John le Carré, of watching the games of vastly intelligent and dead-hearted men as they play with the lives of the less guileful.

From New York Times

Creepy Santa never gets his ultimate comeuppance, guileful Snow White never finds her ideal prince.

From Los Angeles Times