CANNINESS Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

canniness

noun

Definition of canniness

as in intelligence

exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters negotiates business deals with all of the proverbial canniness of an old-time horse trader

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cunning

skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means the canniness with which she negotiated her contract as spokesperson for the shoe manufacturer

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for canniness

Noun

Ravens and crows have also represented intelligence, knowledge, transformation, and even creation in cultures around the world.

— Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
Both sides stressed that the use of intelligence and electrification technology is an important focus for working together.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of intelligence

Noun

Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Definition of cunning

Noun

No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.

— Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
All of this shone vividly through his work, which shared his joy, artfulness and deep feeling, and most of all privileged human experience and social interaction.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

Definition of artfulness

Noun

They’re just executed here with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
That the film mostly pulls this off is testament to its formal precision and to a central pairing of actors, in Lavernhe and Lottin, who manage to find subtlety where broad strokes would seem to be called for.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of subtlety

Noun

Cignetti has tapped into a distinctly Hoosier brand of team pride, which proves that his acumen is just as strong off the football field as on it.

— Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 28 Jan. 2026
The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.

— Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 20 Jan. 2023

Definition of acumen

Noun

Long before mindfulness became a defining element of luxury hospitality, Miraval Arizona was there with insights and solutions.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Visiting people in their communities and gaining firsthand insight into Norway’s diverse realities became a fundamental part of their work.

— Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of insight

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cannily

canniness

canning

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“Canniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canniness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of canniness

noun

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