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Definitions

streetwise

[street-wahyz] / ˈstritˌwaɪz /
ADJECTIVE
canny
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adroit astute cagey cautious discreet frugal ingenious intelligent judicious prudent shrewd skillful sly subtle wise
WEAK
able acute careful circumspect cunning dexterous foxy having fancy footwork hep knowing nimble-witted perspicacious quick quick-witted sagacious slick slippery smart smooth street smart wary watchful with it worldly-wise
Antonyms
STRONGEST
awkward careless foolish hasty honest idiotic ignorant imbecile imprudent incautious inept open rash reckless stupid thoughtless uncareful unintelligent unskilled unwise
WEAK
silly
ADJECTIVE
competitive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggressive ambitious competing cutthroat vying
WEAK
antagonistic at odds combative dog-eat-dog emulous killer killer instinct opposing rival
Antonyms
WEAK
noncompetitive unambitious
ADJECTIVE
crafty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
astute cagey canny devious insidious shrewd slick sly wily
STRONG
intelligent smart subtle
WEAK
adroit artful calculating crazy like fox cunning deceitful designing disingenuous duplicitous foxy fraudulent guileful keen knowing sharp slippery smooth street smart tricky vulpine
Antonyms
STRONGEST
honest open straightforward
WEAK
naive
ADJECTIVE
cunning
Synonyms
STRONG
Machiavellian acute deep keen knowing sharp slick smart smarts smooth
WEAK
artful astute cagey canny crafty crazy like fox fancy footwork foxy guileful insidious shifty shrewd slippery sly sly boots street-smart subtle tricky wary wily
Antonyms
STRONG
aboveboard blunt coarse dull ignorant obtuse rough slow stupid unintelligent unstylish
WEAK
gullible kind naive shy unclever unimaginative
ADJECTIVE
savvy
Synonyms
STRONG
acute calculating cunning discerning experienced keen knowing sharp slick smart smooth wise
WEAK
astute brainy cagey canny clever crafty farsighted foxy heady in the know ingenious intelligent judicious on the ball perceptive sagacious sensible sly
Antonyms
STRONG
blunt coarse dull ignorant inexperienced kind naive obtuse rough slow stupid unclever unintelligent unstylish
ADJECTIVE
shrewd
Synonyms
STRONGEST
astute cagey canny crafty farsighted ingenious judicious keen penetrating perceptive probing prudent sensible sharp slick sly smart wily wise
WEAK
acute argute artful astucious brainy calculating cunning cutting deep discerning discriminating foxy heady in the know inside knowing on the inside on top of perspicacious piercing profound quick-witted sagacious savvy shark slippery smooth tricky underhand up on wised up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blunt dull foolish honest idiotic ignorant inept obtuse senseless slow stupid unclever unintelligent unreasonable unstylish unwise
WEAK
frivolous naive unthinking
ADJECTIVE
slick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deft glib sharp shrewd skillful sly smooth sophisticated
STRONG
knowing polished professional quick wise
WEAK
adroit cagey canny dextrous foxy plausible smooth-spoken specious unctuous urbane
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant naive simple slow stupid unskillful
WEAK
amateurish clumsy coarse rough unclever unintelligent unpolished
ADJECTIVE
sophisticated
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mature practical refined worldly
STRONG
bored citified cool cultivated disenchanted disillusioned experienced jaded knowing practiced schooled seasoned smooth studied
WEAK
adult artificial been around blasé couth cynical in in the know into jet-set laid-back mondaine on to sharp skeptical stagy suave svelte switched-on uptown urbane well-bred wise to wised-up with it world-weary worldly-wise
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inexperienced unrefined unsophisticated
STRONG
enchanted encouraged enthusiastic excited uncool
WEAK
easy naive simple slow uncultivated uncultured
ADJECTIVE
street-smart
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hardened
WEAK
astute cunning experienced on the ball quick-witted savvy seasoned shrewd worldly
Antonyms
WEAK
inexperienced naïve
ADJECTIVE
street smart
Synonyms
WEAK
artful astute cagey calculating canny clever crafty cunning experienced foxy ingenious intelligent perceptive quick-witted savvy seasoned sharp slick sly smart smooth wily wise
ADJECTIVE
tricky
Synonyms
STRONGEST
shifty slippery smooth subtle treacherous
WEAK
artful astute cagey catchy clever crafty cunning deceitful deep delusive delusory devious dishonest foxy greasy guileful insidious intelligent keen misleading scheming shady sharp shrewd slick wily witted wry
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forthright honest
WEAK
aboveboard frank
ADJECTIVE
wily
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cagey crooked scheming shifty shrewd sly sneaky underhanded
WEAK
arch artful astute crazy like a fox cunning deceitful deceptive deep designing foxy greasy guileful insidious intriguing knowing sagacious sharp slick slippery smooth tricky
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aboveboard forthright frank honest open straight

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.

A streetwise Scotland smothered France in defence and ran them through in attack, at one point stretching their lead to a scarcely credible 33 points.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

So, do I go with the energy of Leeds or back streetwise Palace?

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

Paxton is a sweet and eager missionary born into the faith; Barnes joined by way of her mother’s conversion and seems a bit more streetwise.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2024

They are playing like a Dyche team too - hardworking and streetwise, but with a bit of quality too.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2024

Goldman was from Queens, a streetwise, muscled Air Force veteran in his forties, and I considered him a stalwart.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.