1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
a shady salesman who usually relies on a combination of quick thinking and guile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a person so full of guile he can't even be trusted to give you the correct time of day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 guile
Next for Fonseca is Lorenzo Sonego, a 29-year-old Italian who will have to hope that wisdom and guile win out over the exuberance of youth.
—
Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Getting out doesn’t just require thumb-shredding dexterity, wit, and guile but also — fittingly for its premise — patience.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Over time, guile took on the connotation of deceitful cunning in English, emerging in Middle English around the 12th century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Runners who lack the speed of the fastest distance runners can compete, using grit and guile to keep up with their faster competitors.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for guile
Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Getting out doesn’t just require thumb-shredding dexterity, wit, and guile but also — fittingly for its premise — patience.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Over time, guile took on the connotation of deceitful cunning in English, emerging in Middle English around the 12th century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Runners who lack the speed of the fastest distance runners can compete, using grit and guile to keep up with their faster competitors.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for guile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guile
Noun
-
Joey Merlo’s cunning, captivating On Set With Theda Bara first lit its murky lights at the Brick a year ago — and now, in a heartening example of institutional collaboration, the Transport Group and the Lucille Lortel Theatre have pitched in as presenters to bring it back for an encore performance.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2024
-
For Mirren, the cunning and cruelty of Whitfield is a timely example of power corrupting absolutely.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In the beginning, each player is secretly assigned as either a Faithful or a Traitor, setting the stage for an intense game of deception, strategy and survival.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
After weeks of treachery and deception, the final roundtable has been viewed, and the winner or winners for The Traitors Season 3 have been revealed.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Much of the series’ pathos hinges on the growing schism between mother and son as Kanan begins to understand the horrors of Raq’s machinations and deceit (including tricking him into assassinating his biological father), leading him to try to go into business for himself.—
Robyn Bahr,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Thirteen showed signs of possible deceit or suspicious activity.—
Donna McGuire,
Ian Cummings,
and Glenn E. Rice,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
After Elizabeth Holmes lost her last-ditch effort to overturn her 2022 fraud conviction by a federal appeals court on Monday, Feb. 24, the former Theranos founder responded to the decision from behind bars.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Rather than leaning on the missions of inspectors general, whose job is to search out waste and fraud at government agencies, Trump has moved forcefully against them, flouting statutes that require a 30-day notice and specific reasons for their dismissals.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guile. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share