wily
Full of tricks
Wily describes someone skilled at using clever tricks to achieve their aims—cunning, crafty, scheming.
The word often carries grudging admiration: a wily negotiator, a wily old fox.
Wily suggests strategic deception rather than brute force, the kind of intelligence that outmaneuvers rather than overpowers.
Sly, scheming cleverness
scheming · calculating · devious · shrewd · astute · cagey · subtle · clever
Inclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
untruthful · insincere · dissembling · disingenuous · beguiling · two-faced · treacherous · fraudulent
Skilled at controlling others
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- plottingDevising a secret plan
- machinatingPlotting with harmful intent
intriguing · calculating · insidious · Machiavellian · conspiratorial · exploitative · controlling · string-pulling
Practically clever, perceptive
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- keenSharp or enthusiastic
acute · insightful · sagacious · judicious · prudent · wise · discerning · perspicacious
Cunning deceiver in myth
- foxCunning wild canine
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- rascalLovable troublemaker
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
knave · charlatan · con artist · swindler · hustler · grifter · coyote · Loki
Secretly cautious in movement
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- sneakyStealthily deceptive
- covertIntentionally concealed
- secretiveInclined to conceal
surreptitious · undercover · elusive · evasive · shadowy · catlike · undetected · silent
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
foxy · scheming · calculating · devious · shrewd · astute · cagey · subtle · clever · slick
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
false · untruthful · insincere · dissembling · disingenuous · beguiling · two-faced · treacherous · fraudulent · underhanded
manipulative
Skilled at controlling others
machinating · intriguing · calculating · insidious · Machiavellian · conspiratorial · exploitative · controlling · string-pulling · self-serving
shrewd
Practically clever, perceptive
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
keen · acute · insightful · sagacious · judicious · prudent · wise · discerning · perspicacious · intelligent
trickster
Cunning deceiver in myth
scoundrel · knave · charlatan · con artist · swindler · hustler · grifter · coyote · Loki · Anansi
stealthy
Secretly cautious in movement
secretive · surreptitious · undercover · elusive · evasive · shadowy · catlike · undetected · silent · hidden
- Tricksterstrickster, mischief-maker, Loki, rascal, Anansi
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, slyness, sly
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
- wickedevil, wicked, villainous, malicious, sinister
- awareaware, mindful, attentive, alert, vigilant
- Wile E. Coyote
- wile awaySpend time aimlessly
- Wile E Coyote
- wily foxCunning, deceitful animal