1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canny
In Babygirl, the girlboss isn’t being vilified or even critiqued, but explored with a canny interest.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Much has been made of his Nikes, and the Church’s decision to display him this way has always struck me as a canny bit of image-making.
—Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Sam was the canny Shubert, the vaguely artistic Shubert, the thought-to-be-maybe-gay Shubert.
—Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
This potentially opens up the arrangement to challenge by activists such as Max Schrems, a canny Austrian privacy advocate, whose legal complaints led to the collapse of two previous arrangements.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Much has been made of his Nikes, and the Church’s decision to display him this way has always struck me as a canny bit of image-making.
—Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Sam was the canny Shubert, the vaguely artistic Shubert, the thought-to-be-maybe-gay Shubert.
—Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
This potentially opens up the arrangement to challenge by activists such as Max Schrems, a canny Austrian privacy advocate, whose legal complaints led to the collapse of two previous arrangements.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
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Ushering In The Electrification Era Technologies enabling smart renewable energy solutions, reliable battery-management systems and sustainable manufacturing practices are central to our electricity infrastructure.—
Henrik Mannesson,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Related article iPhone could triple in price to $3,500 if they’re made in the US, analyst warns Mohit Kumar, CEO and founder of smart ring maker Ultrahuman, has firsthand experience shifting production of a tech product to the US from India.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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There’s deep emotion and vulnerability in Blanchett’s work, with its performance counteracting the New Boy’s calm and comfortable otherness with an almost overbearing dedication to care.—
Ella Kemp,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
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Your breakthrough is waiting on the other side of what feels comfortable.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The directors’ astute perception of (mis)communication between the sexes stems from her experience growing up with her parents, who stayed together for societal and financial reasons.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
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Only this time, a tactically astute coach is required.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Downstairs, a games room is set up to shoot pool or hunker down with Texas Hold’em, and a bunk room for guests means hosting and entertaining is always relaxed and easy.—
Catherine Dunwoody,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This combination of factors with the relaxed atmosphere in the cellars provided ideal conditions to produce excellent wines.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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To the world, Seema is a shrewd real estate broker.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Wonderfully surreal, completely original, and frequently hilarious, La Máquina — which also stars Eiza González (3 Body Problem) as Eduardo’s shrewd ex-wife, Irasema — packs a powerful punch.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Five Strategic Lessons For A CMO’s Met Gala Playbook The Met Gala is a little bit celebrity pageantry, and a lot of savvy marketing built on smart, long-game cultural fluency.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Machado is among the league’s savviest baserunners.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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