sly
Mischievously devious type
Sly describes someone who is clever in a cunning or deceptive way, often pursuing hidden motives while appearing innocent.
A sly smile or sly glance suggests knowing something others don't.
The word can be neutral or admiring when it describes shrewd resourcefulness, but more often implies sneakiness or manipulation.
She gave him a sly wink across the room.
On the sly means secretly or covertly: He was seeing someone on the sly.
Cleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
- cageyReluctant to share information
guileful · artful · scheming · conniving · subtle · slick · foxy · devious
Cunning wild canine
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- conmanFraud who deceives for profit
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
deceiver · schemer · knave · rascal · scoundrel · impostor · cheat · hustler
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
untrustworthy · dissembling · disingenuous · false · misleading · two-faced · sneaky · shifty
Brief, casual look
- smilePleased facial expression
- winkBrief one-eyed closure
- grinBroad, toothy smile
- lookDirect one's gaze
smirk · expression · sidelong · knowing · conspiratorial · suggestive · meaningful · sideways
Secretive and sly
- covertIntentionally concealed
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- sneakyStealthily deceptive
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
clandestine · surreptitious · hidden · concealed · undetected · quiet · subtle · unobtrusive
crafty
Cleverly deceptive
cagey · guileful · artful · scheming · conniving · subtle · slick · foxy · devious · calculating
fox
Cunning wild canine
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- conmanFraud who deceives for profit
swindler · deceiver · schemer · knave · rascal · scoundrel · impostor · cheat · hustler · grifter
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
treacherous · untrustworthy · dissembling · disingenuous · false · misleading · two-faced · sneaky · shifty · tricky
glance
Brief, casual look
look · smirk · expression · sidelong · knowing · conspiratorial · suggestive · meaningful · sideways · askance
furtive
Secretive and sly
undercover · clandestine · surreptitious · hidden · concealed · undetected · quiet · subtle · unobtrusive · inconspicuous
mischievous
Playfully causing trouble
coy · arch · knowing · waggish · puckish · elfin · naughty · cheeky · flirtatious · coquettish
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, wily
- mischievousimpish, prankster, roguish, cheeky, playful
- Tricksterstrickster, mischief-maker, Loki, rascal, Anansi
- flirtingpickup line, wink, winking, hair flip, chat-up line
- discretiondiscreet, discretion, subtle, understated, unobtrusive
- fakefake, phony, bogus, sham, counterfeit
slyhonest
Free from deception
straightforward · forthright · candid · frank · open
- sly as a foxCunningly deceptive by nature
- on the slyIn secret manner
- sly foxCunning, devious person
- as sly as a foxExtremely cunning simile
- sly wink
- sly foxesCunning wild canines