FOXY Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

foxy

adjective

ˈfäk-sē

Definition of foxy

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

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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 Over the weekend, his foxy friend, Pete Hegseth, announced a new policy that requires journalists with Pentagon press credentials to sign a pledge promising not to report information that hasn't been explicitly authorized for release. — Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 One highlight involves Wolf’s love interest, the literally and figuratively foxy Governor Foxington (Zazie Beetz), visiting the villainous Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) in prison looking for advice. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025 Red hair, especially in a bolder format like foxy red, implies a fearlessness of being perceived and a sense of staunch individuality. — Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 28 Sep. 2024 Kors himself joined the actress on the red carpet in a classic, low-key tuxedo, allowing Zendaya all the spotlight for this foxy moment. — Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for foxy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foxy

Adjective

But don’t let the cute style fool you—this look is super practical, too.

— Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Continue down Main Street in Catskill to find tons of the cute shops upstate New York is known for, in particular Stay Forever for gifts, Spike’s for records, and Magpie for used books.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cute

Adjective

Supporters of the administration view this back and forth as a cunning ploy to buy time for the United States to position itself more advantageously for a confrontation.

— Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Owen is bamboozled by a cunning opportunist, handcuffed, and robbed in his underwear.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
The government’s YouTube series featuring the transportation secretary is slick, well-made and about the Duffys, not the nation.

— Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of slick

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fox-trotting

foxy

foy

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“Foxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foxy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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adjective

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Good Words for Strong Flavors

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