Adjective
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
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Adjective
The show explores how Nara’s personal life informs his work, and highlights his canny ability to blend childlike innocence with political rebellion.—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 5 June 2025 Animation Station Vampire Hunter D This stone-cold, ’80s goth anime classic is rarely available to stream legally, and the dual Hidive-Shudder collaborative release is a canny way to present it.—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 2 June 2025 Herberger was both a good tactician and a canny man-manager.—Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 June 2025 At the same time, the canny defense lawyer also made a point of mentioning that Combs isn’t charged with any of that and the government should own up to that.—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for canny
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
originally Scots & regional northern English, going back to early Scots, "free from risk, sagacious, prudent, cautious," probably from can "ability" (noun derivative of cancan entry 1) + -y-y entry 1
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