- present participle of can.
cunning
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The story of the “Wooden Horse,” as most translations call it, gets only brief references in Homer’s epic, cited in passing as an example of Odysseus’s cunning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
"His performance certainly seems tinged with the courageous naivety of Spider-Man, insisting on trying to influence those much more cunning and physically capable than he," he wrote.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
He is cunning, not intelligent — something he unwittingly proves every time he claims that passing a basic mental competency test shows his brilliance.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
Hatcher — a Pomo shape-shifter who dodges prejudice by passing as Mexican in the novel — is a thorny protagonist, often cunning, scheming and unforgiving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
He wheeled a cunning rolling rack of stacked lanterns up next to the Plant and lit them, nine lanterns in all.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Vocabulary lists containing cunning
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Tricky Terms for April Fool's Day
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 6
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