Cunning vs. Intelligent: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 28, 2023
Cunning involves being skillful in deception or manipulation, while intelligent refers to having a high ability to learn, understand, or reason.
Key Differences
Cunning and intelligent are terms often used to describe mental capabilities, but they have different connotations and applications. Cunning is typically used to describe a person who is skillful in achieving their goals, particularly through deception or manipulation. It often implies a certain slyness or craftiness in dealing with situations, where an individual uses trickery or deceit to get what they want. Intelligence, conversely, refers to the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, and it is generally perceived as a positive attribute, indicating a capacity for learning, understanding, and reasoning.
Intelligent individuals usually exhibit a high degree of cognitive abilities, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Being intelligent means having the ability to understand complex concepts, learn from experience, adapt to new situations, and engage in various forms of reasoning. Intelligence is measured in various ways, including IQ tests, and it’s associated with academic prowess, logical reasoning, and intellectual capacity. Cunning, however, does not necessarily involve high cognitive abilities or learning but is more about being shrewd and crafty in approach, often exploiting situations to one’s advantage.
Cunning and intelligence can coexist in an individual, but their applications and implications are distinctly different. A cunning person may use their wiles and astuteness to maneuver situations to their benefit, often through manipulative or deceptive means. They may possess a keen sense of observation and ability to exploit loopholes or weaknesses in systems. Intelligent people, on the other hand, may use their cognitive abilities, knowledge, and understanding to solve problems, make informed decisions, and contribute to knowledge and progress without the negative connotations associated with deceit or manipulation.
To delve deeper, cunning is often perceived with a sense of wariness due to its association with deceit and manipulation. It implies a form of street-smartness, allowing individuals to navigate situations with a focus on self-interest. Intelligence, however, is highly valued and sought after, representing a person's ability to think, learn, and solve problems, usually associated with ethical and moral standards. It is often indicative of one's potential to contribute positively to society, excel in academic and professional realms, and exhibit ethical and moral discernment.
Lastly, while cunning is about being adept in deception to achieve one’s goals, being intelligent is about possessing a high mental capacity to learn, understand, and apply knowledge. Intelligence is a broader concept, related to cognitive abilities, learning capacity, and problem-solving skills, often used in a more positive and commendable context, while cunning is specifically associated with shrewdness and deception, often used in a context where morality is questionable.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Connotation
Often negative, associated with deceit and manipulation
Positive, associated with high cognitive abilities and learning
Application
Achieving goals through trickery or exploiting situations
Solving problems, learning, and understanding complex concepts
Focus
Deception, manipulation, and self-interest
Cognitive abilities, knowledge acquisition, and reasoning
Perception
Viewed with wariness and associated with slyness
Highly valued and sought after, associated with moral discernment
Attributes
Astuteness, shrewdness, and craftiness
Analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and intellectual capacity
ADVERTISEMENT
Cunning and Intelligent Definitions
Cunning
Skillful in deception or manipulation.
The cunning fox tricked the crow into dropping the cheese.
Intelligent
Marked by sound judgment and rational thinking.
His intelligent decisions saved the company from bankruptcy.
Cunning
Displaying keen insight in manipulating situations.
Her cunning observation allowed her to see the loophole in the system.
Intelligent
Possessing a high level of cognitive and intellectual capabilities.
The intelligent scientist made groundbreaking discoveries.
Cunning
Sly and deceptive in nature.
The cunning thief deceived the guards and slipped away.
Intelligent
Having a high ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge.
The intelligent student solved the complex problem easily.
Cunning
Marked by craftiness and shrewdness.
His cunning mind devised a plan to escape unnoticed.
Intelligent
Capable of learning and adapting quickly.
The intelligent software adapts to users' preferences over time.
Cunning
Marked by or given to artful subtlety and deceptiveness.
Intelligent
Having intelligence
Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy?.
Cunning
Executed with or exhibiting ingenuity.
Intelligent
Having a high degree of intelligence; mentally acute
An intelligent student.
Cunning
Delicately pleasing; pretty or cute
A cunning pet.
Intelligent
Showing sound judgment and rationality
An intelligent decision.
An intelligent solution to the problem.
Cunning
Skill in deception; guile.
Intelligent
Appealing to the intellect; intellectual
A film with witty and intelligent dialogue.
Cunning
Skill or adeptness in execution or performance; dexterity.
Intelligent
Of high or especially quick cognitive capacity, bright.
Cunning
Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
Intelligent
Well thought-out, well considered.
The engineer had a very intelligent design proposal for the new car.
The general devised an intelligent strategy for the southern campaign.
Cunning
(obsolete) Skillful, artful.
Intelligent
Characterized by thoughtful interaction.
My girlfriend and I had an intelligent conversation.
Cunning
(obsolete) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
Cunning work
Intelligent
Having at least a similar level of brain power to humankind.
The hunt for intelligent life.
Cunning
Cute, appealing.
Intelligent
Having an environment-sensing automatically-invoked built-in computer capability.
An intelligent network or keyboard
Cunning
Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
Intelligent
Endowed with the faculty of understanding or reason; as, man is an intelligent being.
Cunning
Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit; art or magic.
Intelligent
Possessed of a high level of intelligence, education, or judgment; knowing; sensible; skilled; exhibiting high intelligence; as, an intelligent young man; an intelligent architect; an intelligent answer.
Cunning
The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
Intelligent
Cognizant; aware; communicative.
Intelligent of seasons.
Which are to France the spies and speculationsIntelligent of our state.
Cunning
The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
The cunning of the fox or hare
Intelligent
Having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree;
Is there intelligent life in the universe?
An intelligent question
Cunning
(obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
Intelligent
Possessing sound knowledge;
Well-informed readers
Cunning
Knowing; skillful; dexterous.
"Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and whiteNature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
Esau was a cunning hunter.
Intelligent
Exercising or showing good judgment;
Healthy scepticism
A healthy fear of rattlesnakes
The healthy attitude of French laws
Healthy relations between labor and management
An intelligent solution
A sound approach to the problem
Sound advice
No sound explanation for his decision
Cunning
Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as, cunning work.
Over them Arachne high did lift
Intelligent
Endowed with the capacity to reason
Cunning
Crafty; sly; artful; designing; deceitful.
They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
Intelligent
Exhibiting the capacity for abstract thought and reasoning.
The intelligent philosopher proposed new theories about existence.
Cunning
Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy.
Cunning
Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity.
Let my right hand forget her cunning.
A carpenter's desertStands more in cunning than in power.
Cunning
The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft.
Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom.
We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom.
Cunning
Shrewdness in deception;
As cunning as a fox
Cunning
Shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
Cunning
Drafty artfulness (especially in deception)
Cunning
Attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness;
A cute kid with pigtails
A cute little apartment
Cunning kittens
A cunning baby
Cunning
Marked by skill in deception;
Cunning men often pass for wise
Deep political machinations
A foxy scheme
A slick evasive answer
Sly as a fox
Tricky Dik
A wily old attorney
Cunning
Showing inventiveness and skill;
A clever gadget
The cunning maneuvers leading to his success
An ingenious solution to the problem
Cunning
Clever and resourceful in exploiting situations to one’s advantage.
With cunning strategy, he won the game effortlessly.
FAQs
Can an intelligent person be cunning?
Yes, an intelligent person can be cunning, but the two traits are distinct.
Can cunning be perceived as street-smartness?
Yes, cunning can imply a form of street-smartness, adept in maneuvering situations.
Does being intelligent mean being knowledgeable?
Not necessarily. Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge, but it doesn’t equate to being knowledgeable.
Are cunning and intelligent synonymous?
No, cunning implies craftiness and deception, while intelligent implies high learning and reasoning abilities.
Is intelligence measurable?
Yes, through various means like IQ tests, but they only capture specific aspects of intelligence.
Can cunning strategies be effective?
Yes, cunning strategies can be effective in achieving goals, especially through deception and manipulation.
Is cunning always negative?
Often, as it usually implies deception or manipulation for self-interest.
Is intelligence innate?
It's debated, but intelligence is believed to be a combination of innate abilities and environmental influences.
Is intelligent a commendable trait?
Yes, intelligence is generally valued and commendable, associated with positive contributions.
Can cunning involve exploitation?
Yes, cunning often involves exploiting situations or people for one's gain.
Is intelligence related to moral discernment?
It can be, but intelligence and morality are distinct concepts.
Does cunning imply a lack of intelligence?
No, cunning and intelligence are independent traits; one can be cunning, intelligent, neither, or both.
Can a cunning plan be morally acceptable?
It depends on the context; if it involves deception or exploitation for harm, it is generally not morally acceptable.
Can intelligence be developed?
Yes, through learning and experiences, intelligence can be developed and enhanced.
Is cunning related to trickery?
Yes, cunning is often associated with trickery and deceit to achieve one's goals.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
