Meaning & use
sly
Last updated
Cunning, secretive, and skilled at deceiving others, often in a lighthearted or playful way.
See it in a sentence
He gave a sly smile before revealing he'd already won the bet.
The fox in the story is portrayed as sly and always one step ahead.
A note on using this word
Can suggest either mischievous cleverness, as in a "sly grin," or more negative deceitfulness, depending on context.
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