canny
Sharp and prudent
Canny means shrewd and careful, especially with money or in making judgments.
A canny investor knows when to hold back; a canny negotiator senses the right moment to push.
The word suggests practical wisdom rather than book learning—someone who won't be easily fooled or taken advantage of.
More common in British English and Scottish dialect, where it can also mean pleasant or nice: a canny wee place.
Practically clever, perceptive
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
- perceptiveQuick to understand
calculating · crafty · sly · wily · savvy · streetwise · knowing · cagey
Having mental acuity
- smartMentally quick, or fashionable
- quick-wittedFast at thinking
- ingeniousCleverly original in design
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
bright · wise · sagacious · discerning · insightful · adroit · adept · perspicacious
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- waryGuardedly alert
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
vigilant · discreet · heedful · chary · watchful · mindful · attentive · deliberate
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- sparingUsing resources minimally
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
- penny-pinchingExtreme reluctance to spend
tightfisted · provident · stingy · miserly · budget-conscious · cost-conscious · cheap · scrimping
shrewd
Practically clever, perceptive
perceptive · calculating · crafty · sly · wily · savvy · streetwise · knowing · cagey · foxy
intelligent
Having mental acuity
- smartMentally quick, or fashionable
- quick-wittedFast at thinking
- ingeniousCleverly original in design
resourceful · bright · wise · sagacious · discerning · insightful · adroit · adept · perspicacious · sharp-witted
careful
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- waryGuardedly alert
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
guarded · vigilant · discreet · heedful · chary · watchful · mindful · attentive · deliberate · measured
thrifty
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- sparingUsing resources minimally
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
penny-pinching · tightfisted · provident · stingy · miserly · budget-conscious · cost-conscious · cheap · scrimping · niggardly
dour
Sternly gloomy
- Britishismsbloke, blimey, bloody, cheers, loo
- Regional Slangy'all, bless your heart, cattywampus, ope, you betcha
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, shrewd
- regionalismsyouse, fixin' to, fixing to, ain't, aint
- Scotsaye, wee, nae, ken, couldnae
- Geordiebairn, bonny, hinny, nee, nowt
cannyartless
Lacking deceit or cunning
guileless · ingenuous · undesigning · unsubtle · transparent