Meaning & use
craftily
Last updated
Meanings
adverbdisapproving
In a clever and slightly dishonest way, especially to get an advantage or to trick someone.
Grammar: An adverb of manner; it modifies a verb and can go after the verb or before it: She smiled craftily. / She craftily smiled.
Patterns
- do something craftily
- craftily avoid something
- craftily get out of something
He craftily changed the subject whenever anyone mentioned the missing money.
She craftily got her brother to do the whole job while she watched television.
The deal was craftily worded so that most customers never noticed the extra charge.
adverbapprovingliterary
With skill and careful attention, especially in work done with the hands.
Grammar: A less common, more approving use; it describes skillful making rather than tricking.
Patterns
- craftily made
- craftily built
The little box was craftily made, with joints so fine you could hardly see them.
Every corner of the old house was craftily carved by someone who clearly loved the work.
Common combinations
- craftily worded
- The contract was craftily worded to protect only the company.
- smile craftily
- She smiled craftily and said nothing about the surprise.
- craftily avoid
- He craftily avoided answering the question about his plans.
- craftily disguised
- The entrance was craftily disguised as a plain brick wall.
- craftily arranged
- The seats were craftily arranged so that everyone could see the stage.
Synonyms and how they differ
- slyly
- Slyly suggests quiet, secret trickery and is more negative than craftily.
- cunningly
- Cunningly stresses clever planning to deceive; it is stronger and more disapproving than craftily.
- cleverly
- Cleverly is approving and does not suggest dishonesty, so it fits when no trick is involved.
Opposites
Word family
- crafty adjective
- Clever at tricking people; the adjective that craftily comes from.
- craftiness noun
- The quality of being crafty or sly.
- craft noun
- Skill in making things by hand, or an activity such as pottery.
- craftsman noun
- A person who makes things skillfully with their hands.
Commonly confused: craftily or crafty? craftily or cruelly?
craftily vs crafty
Crafty is the adjective (a crafty plan), while craftily is the adverb (he planned it craftily).
craftily vs cruelly
Cruelly means in a harsh, unkind way; craftily means in a clever, sneaky way — the meanings are quite different.
Practice
Which sentence uses craftily correctly?
Choose one answer.
Craftily is an adverb, so it describes how an action is done, as in option A. Option B uses it after 'was', where an adjective like 'crafty' is needed; option C uses it as a noun subject; and option D uses it to modify a noun, which an adverb cannot do.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “craftily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.