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ARTFUL
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I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft
Example:
an artful choice of metaphors
Classified under:
Similar:
crafty; cunning; dodgy; foxy; guileful; knavish; slick; sly; tricksy; tricky; wily (marked by skill in deception)
cute; precious (obviously contrived to charm)
designing; scheming (concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest)
deep (exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy)
elusive (skillful at eluding capture)
manipulative (skillful in influencing or controlling others to your own advantage)
pawky (cunning and sly)
Also:
adroit (quick or skillful or adept in action or thought)
Antonym:
artless (simple and natural; without cunning or deceit)
Derivation:
artfulness (the quality of being adroit in taking unfair advantage)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
Example:
a disingenuous excuse
Synonyms:
artful; disingenuous
Classified under:
Similar:
distorted; misrepresented; perverted; twisted (having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented)
Also:
insincere (lacking sincerity)
Derivation:
artfulness (the quality of being adroit in taking unfair advantage)
Context examples:
You're an artful little puss to flatter and wheedle your cross old sister in that way.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
He soon quitted Bath; and on Mrs Clay's quitting it soon afterwards, and being next heard of as established under his protection in London, it was evident how double a game he had been playing, and how determined he was to save himself from being cut out by one artful woman, at least.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his integrity, his delicacy, and well-informed mind, be satisfied with a wife like her—illiterate, artful, and selfish?
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
I never did like that Miss Randal and now I hate her! said artful Amy, wishing to be sure of her facts this time.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
This artful allusion to benefits conferred brought Tupman to his feet, looking as if he had quite made up his mind.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
