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cunning

/ˈkʌnɪŋ/
Meanings
  • adjective

    Having or showing great cleverness and ingeniousness, especially in achieving one's objective.

    - "His cunning plan to steal the jewels was finally successful."
    - "The fox is known for its cunning abilities to outsmart its prey."
  • adjective

    Clever and manipulative in a way that is not necessarily kind or fair.

    - "She was cunning and used her charm to get what she wanted."
    - "The cunning politician outmaneuvered his opponents."
Pronunciation
  1. /ˈkʌnɪŋ/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2100675"
  2. /ˈkʌnɪŋ/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2100675"
Rhymes
Words rhyming with cunning
running , junning , bunning
Variants
List of all variants of cunning that leads to same result
cunning , cunninger , cunningest , cunningly , cunningness , cunningnesses , cunnings , low cunning
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'cunnan', meaning 'to know' or 'to be skilled'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The word 'cunning' is related to the word 'know'.

  2. In Middle English, 'cunning' meant 'skill' or 'expertise'.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. cleverness: The ability to learn, understand, and use new or unfamiliar ideas, concepts, or information effectively and inventively.

  2. ingenuity: The ability to create or invent new and original ideas, methods, or products.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. A "cunning" politician is often found skulking under the clerical robe, with an outside all religion, and an inside all political rancour.

    - Washington Irving,{it}A History of New York{/it},1809,{"source"=>"in {it}History, Tales and Sketches{/it}", "aqdate"=>"(1977) 1983"}

  2. I have recounted the advice I received from an old-timer about how to keep raccoons out of garbage cans—advice that eventually included the purchase of a combination lock. ("A raccoon's "cunning", but he's got no head for figures.")

    - Calvin Trillin,{it}New Yorker{/it},11 Oct. 1993

  3. Throughout his time hunting the vampire, Manolito had been wounded and poisoned on many occasions, but still he'd survived because he'd always used his brain. He was "cunning" and shrewd and very intelligent.

    - Christine Feehan,{it}Dark Possession{/it},2007

  4. … this cat has made his way into the Fitness Center for "cunning" reasons of his own and reveals himself only to certain privileged individuals.

    - Joyce Carol Oates,{it}Harper's{/it},June 2008

  5. So the Leader went into his den and looked at his children—two very "cunning" little cubs, lying on the floor.

    - Hugh Lofting,{it}The Story of Doctor Dolittle{/it},1920
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'cunning' is often used to describe characters who use their intelligence to outwit their opponents. It can have negative connotations when referring to deceitful or manipulative behavior.

How to Memorize "cunning"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a fox, known for its cunning abilities, outsmarting its prey in the forest.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'cunning' with the image of a clever and manipulative person.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic by remembering the phrase 'Clever Understanding Never Outwits Many' to help remember the meaning of 'cunning'.

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