1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comfortable
chiefly Scottish
enjoying physical comfort
warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
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 canny
But that spontaneity is balanced out with canny studio manipulation by producer Scotty Hard, who juxtaposes grooves and riffs and knits songs together, finding through lines and punctuating disjunctions.
—
Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Cubs made some canny moves in the offseason, and just signed budding superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term contract extension.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Nod to the menswear mood of backless loafers with traditional tailoring that has equally canny updates.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
The Cubs made some canny moves in the offseason, and just signed budding superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong to a long-term contract extension.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
Nod to the menswear mood of backless loafers with traditional tailoring that has equally canny updates.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
Adjective
-
August 23 – September 22 A smart adjustment today creates more momentum than effort.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This white chocolate bar is creamy and ultra-sweet, and the great minds at TJ’s were smart to distract from the one-note flavor with crunchy little cookie crumbles.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Brunson scored eight points in his first 12 minutes and looked comfortable almost immediately.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The family documents describe comfortable lives and prosperous businesses blown apart by the war and the mounting Nazi menace.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Michelle is floating through life until a surprising connection with a high schooler challenges her friendship with her overbearing best friend, in this bitingly astute and exceptionally hilarious satire.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This was, of course, an astute political strategy.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The same pair of pants can look utterly relaxed on a Sunday, then tackle a professional dress code come Monday morning.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The distressed finish fits seamlessly with a relaxed cottagecore aesthetic or a more refined French country style.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If Ty Simpson develops into a top NFL quarterback who leads the Rams to a Super Bowl title, the club will look back at the 2026 draft as one of the best and shrewdest in its history.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Braves enjoyed a renaissance under Snitker’s leadership, ushering in a line of acclaimed prospects and shrewd acquisitions that created the second-best era of sustained success in Atlanta history.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Choosing Simpson might prove a savvy move.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
His technical skill continues to mature with additional reps, although savvy rushers can attack his leverage and quickly force him into recovery mode.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
