foxy

adjective

ˈfäk-sē How to pronounce foxy (audio)
Definition of foxynext
as in cute
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means the oft-told story of the foxy flatterer who works her way up the ladder of success by stepping on people as she goes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foxy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foxy are artful, crafty, cunning, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When could artful be used to replace foxy?

While the synonyms artful and foxy are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When is it sensible to use crafty instead of foxy?

The words crafty and foxy can be used in similar contexts, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When might cunning be a better fit than foxy?

In some situations, the words cunning and foxy are roughly equivalent. However, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When can slick be used instead of foxy?

While in some cases nearly identical to foxy, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

Where would sly be a reasonable alternative to foxy?

The meanings of sly and foxy largely overlap; however, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

In what contexts can tricky take the place of foxy?

The words tricky and foxy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for foxy?

The synonyms wily and foxy are sometimes interchangeable, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foxy Thereza Wright-Morris This foxy lady is the wife of Dallas Mavericks power forward and NBA champion Markieff Morris. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 June 2024 Richard Linklater directs this foxy caper with buoyant good humor. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 June 2024 Related posts: - Caturday rib licking - Canis Minor shoots for the sky - A foxy Caturday - Owl be seeing you culture 1 free article left Want More? —Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2010 Feeling foxy? —Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for foxy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foxy
  1. cute
  2. cunning
  3. subtle
Adjective
  • This Mainstays set accomplishes both goals and is so cute for summer.
    — Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
  • His rapping has a frail, slithering quality; his vocal tone morphs between cute squeakiness and ragged rottweiler growls.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Every actor is absolutely perfect in this super-efficient romp, from Cleese’s perfect straight man amidst the chaos, to Curtis’ seductive, cunning femme fatale, to Palin’s stammering, animal-loving hitman whose assassination attempts go disastrously wrong.
    — Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Their infatuations are challenged by a cunning philosopher who persuades the bros to pretend they’ve been suddenly drafted and to return later in disguise to woo each other’s fiancée.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Struggling to read greens by consistently missing left or right is aided by digital green readers that retrain your brain to read the subtle undulations of the green.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Of course, artists such as Mondrian and Klimt would likely not have been aware of fractals, or the math that underpins them, but perhaps had an innate understanding of the subtle proportions all trees share, according to the researchers.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of subtle

Browse Nearby Words

fox-trotting
foxy
foy
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Cite this Entry

“Foxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foxy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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