Tricky vs. Cunning

Tricky vs. Cunning — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Tricky and Cunning

Trickyadjective

hard to deal with, complicated

They were in a tricky situation.

Cunningadjective

Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

Trickyadjective

adept at using deception

A tricky salesman can sell anything.

Cunningadjective

(obsolete) Skillful, artful.

Trickyadjective

Relating to or associated with a prostitution trick

I don't want any of your tricky money, thank you!

Cunningadjective

(obsolete) Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.

cunning work
ADVERTISEMENT

Trickyadjective

not to be trusted;

how extraordinarily slippery a liar the camera isthey called Reagan the teflon president because mud never stuck to him

Cunningadjective

Cute, appealing.

a cunning little boy''

Trickyadjective

having concealed difficulty;

a catchy questiona tricky recipe to follow

Cunningnoun

Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.

Trickyadjective

marked by skill in deception;

cunning men often pass for wisedeep political machinationsa foxy schemea slick evasive answersly as a foxtricky Dika wily old attorney

Cunningnoun

Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cunningnoun

The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.

Cunningnoun

The natural wit or instincts of an animal.

the cunning of the fox or hare

Cunningnoun

(obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

Cunningnoun

shrewdness in deception;

as cunning as a fox

Cunningnoun

shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

Cunningnoun

drafty artfulness (especially in deception)

Cunningadjective

attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness;

a cute kid with pigtailsa cute little apartmentcunning kittensa cunning baby

Cunningadjective

marked by skill in deception;

cunning men often pass for wisedeep political machinationsa foxy schemea slick evasive answersly as a foxtricky Dika wily old attorney

Cunningadjective

showing inventiveness and skill;

a clever gadgetthe cunning maneuvers leading to his successan ingenious solution to the problem