Dictionary
wily
adjective \ˈwī-lē\
: full of clever tricks : very clever
wil·i·erwil·i·est
Full Definition of WILY
See wily defined for English-language learners
See wily defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of WILY
14th century
Related to WILY
Synonym Discussion of WILY
sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means. sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods <a sly corporate raider>. cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing <the cunning fox avoided the trap>. crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method <a crafty lefthander>. wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering <the wily fugitive escaped the posse>. tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering <a tricky political operative>. foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing <a foxy publicity man planting stories>. artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness <elicited the information by artful questioning>. slick emphasizes smoothness and guile <slick operators selling time-sharing>.
WILIER Defined for Kids
wily
adjective \ˈwī-lē\
wil·i·erwil·i·est
Definition of WILY for Kids
: full of tricks : crafty
Learn More About WILY
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: wimberryPrevious Word in the Dictionary: Wiltshire sideAll Words Near: wily
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up wily? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).