slyness

S1L1Y4N1E1S1S1

noun

The state or quality of being sly.

“With his natural slyness, he was able to talk his way out of trouble.”

Similar
craftinesscraftcunningfoxinessguilewiliness
OriginMiddle English slynesse →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounslyness (countable and uncountable, plural slynesses)

plural slynesses

  1. uncountableThe state or quality of being sly.

    With his natural slyness, he was able to talk his way out of trouble.

  2. countableThe result or product of being sly.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
craftiness

nounshrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

Similar
craftcraftinesscunningfoxinessguilewiliness
Broader
shrewdnessastutenessperspicacity
Also see
craftcraftinesscunningfoxinessguilesubtletywiliness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishslynesse
  2. Englishslyness

From Middle English slynesse. By surface analysis, sly + -ness.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque azerikeria
  • azerikeriaquality of being sly
Turkish kurnazlık, cerbeze
  • kurnazlıkquality of being sly
  • cerbezequality of being sly

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with slyness

minusLinussinusdrynesshighnessshynessminosvinousValentinusawrynessechinusextrasinusintrasinusNew Minasnonsinusparasinuspulvinussprynessuncinusvenosinusvenous sinuswryness
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

slyness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slyness

MLA

“slyness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slyness. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “slyness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slyness.

Source: slyness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.