Vocabulary in context
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Wily
Deceitfully clever; cunning and sly; full of craftiness.
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Imagine This
Picture a wily fox in a bustling farmyard. It offers to help herd the chickens, all the while calculating the best moment to snatch eggs. Each friendly gesture is a decoy that hides its true goal: misdirection to achieve a prize.
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Sounds Like
WHY-lee
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Looks Like
Willy (a killer whale in the movie Free Willy)
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Remember This
Wily derives from the noun 'wile' meaning a trick or stratagem; the word describes someone who uses clever tricks to achieve a goal.
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Other Forms
wilenoun
wilesnoun
wilieradjective
wiliestadjective
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Connect With
craftiness, cunning, slyness, deception, guile
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Note
Note: Do not confuse wily with willful. Wily describes crafty trickery; willful means deliberate or intentional. Also distinguish between 'wile' (the trick) and 'wiles' (tricks).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The wily fox outsmarted the farmer by using a decoy and slipping into the coop.
- She was so wily in negotiations that she secured a favorable deal without appearing aggressive.
Synonyms
slycunningcraftydeviousguileful
Antonyms
frankhonestopen
Etymology
From the noun 'wile' meaning a trick or stratagem; the -y suffix forms the adjective meaning 'full of wiles.' The noun 'wile' comes from Old English and is related to other Germanic words for craft and deceit.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: Wily contains the word 'wile' (a trick). Remember: if someone is wily, they are full of wiles.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
Adept
adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.
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