crossword clue cunning – All Crossword Answers
Welcome! If you're stuck on the crossword clue "cunning," you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of potential answers, organized by their length, to help you complete your puzzle quickly and accurately. We provide explanations for each answer to ensure you understand why it fits the clue.
Solutions for "crossword clue cunning" by Letter Count
3 Letters
SLY: Suggests being clever in a deceitful or artful way.
4 Letters
FOXY: Implying cleverness and cunning, often associated with the characteristics of a fox.
WILY: Indicating skill in gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.
6 Letters
ARTFUL: Clever or skillful, especially in a crafty or cunning way.
CRAFTY: Skilled in planning and deception; artful.
SHREWD: Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.
CLEVER: Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; ingenious.
TRICKY: Difficult to deal with or requiring care and skill; also, given to artifice or deception.
ASTUTE: Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
More About "crossword clue cunning"
The term "cunning" in crosswords often points towards words describing cleverness, artifice, ingenuity, or a subtle ability to achieve one's goals, sometimes through deceit. It's a rich word with many synonyms, making it a frequent and versatile clue in puzzles. When you encounter "cunning," consider the nuance the puzzle setter might be aiming for – is it about cleverness in general, or specifically about slyness or deception? This distinction can help you narrow down the correct answer among several possibilities.
Common crossword answers for "cunning" frequently include words like SLY, FOXY, WILY, ARTFUL, CRAFTY, and SHREWD. The specific answer will depend heavily on the number of letters required by the puzzle grid and any intersecting words. Always check the word length first, as this is your primary filter for identifying the correct solution from the list of synonyms.
Understanding the various shades of meaning for "cunning" – from resourceful and ingenious to sly and deceitful – is crucial. For example, 'shrewd' often implies intelligence used for practical advantage, while 'crafty' leans more towards deceptive skill. Knowing these subtleties can be the difference between solving a tricky clue and getting stuck.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Word Length: Always start by counting the boxes in the grid. This immediately filters out many incorrect answers for a clue like "cunning," leaving you with only options that fit the required length.
- Check Intersecting Words: Use the letters you've already filled in from crossing words. If you have "S_Y" and the clue is "cunning," 'SLY' becomes a very strong candidate. This is especially helpful when multiple answers for "cunning" have the same letter count.
- Consider Nuance and Context: Think about whether "cunning" is used in a positive (clever, resourceful) or negative (deceitful, sly) context within the puzzle's theme or other clues. This can help distinguish between similar synonyms like 'astute' versus 'crafty'.
- Practice Synonyms: For common clues like "cunning" that have many synonyms, familiarize yourself with a range of related words. The more synonyms you know, the quicker you'll identify the correct one.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common answers for 'cunning' in crosswords?
Some of the most frequently appearing answers for 'cunning' include SLY, FOXY, WILY, ARTFUL, CRAFTY, and SHREWD. The specific answer depends on the number of letters required by the puzzle.
How do I differentiate between similar answers for 'cunning', like 'crafty' and 'shrewd'?
While both imply cleverness, 'crafty' often suggests skill in deception or trickery, whereas 'shrewd' implies sharp, practical intelligence and good judgment. The surrounding clues or puzzle theme might hint at the intended nuance.
Why does 'cunning' have so many different answers?
Words like 'cunning' are rich in synonyms, allowing crossword setters flexibility. Its various meanings – from clever and skillful to sly and deceptive – provide a wide range of suitable answers depending on the specific angle the setter wants to emphasize.