canny

adjective

ˈka-nē How to pronounce canny (audio)
Definition of cannynext
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

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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 In an industry in which creative directors – even on Place Vendôme – are far less visible than their high fashion counterparts, renewal at the top of the design studio is a canny move. — Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026 Pinney’s avid, canny compositions put these varied appurtenances in plain view, foreground and background, making these empty outdoor spaces feel implicitly busy with civic life and labor. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026 For those of us who weren’t there and who aren’t fans, for whom Taylor Swift is either a fascinating celebrity or just one more canny billionaire with a private jet addiction, this weekend put her on a tricky knife’s edge of opinion. — Choire Sicha, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Yet in the three episodes HBO provided for review—episodes whose technical elements can be stunning and manipulation of genre conventions canny—Levinson does nothing to deepen his antihero’s search for meaning. — Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for canny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canny
  1. smart
  2. comfortable
  3. astute
  4. relaxed
  5. shrewd
  6. savvy
Adjective
  • Like its existing Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley smart glasses lines, the new designs are developed with EssilorLuxxottica — the group that also owns Prada eyewear, rumored to be Meta’s next collaborator.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 7 July 2026
  • Recreating the look is easy at Quince, where smart trousers and shirts are available in similar colors and materials that channel the same laid-back aesthetic.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of smart
Adjective
  • Air conditioning will be keeping millions of Americans safe and comfortable over the holiday weekend as a heat dome brings dangerous conditions to millions.
    — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The lightweight, double-layered design offers extra coverage without feeling heavy, while the stretchy waistband and flowy design keep it comfortable all day.
    — Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of comfortable
Adjective
  • However, his calm demeanor and astute in-game changes have helped the Selecao overcome deficits and build psychological resilience.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Her astute observations — and solid Disney fairy tale references — don't stop there.
    — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of astute
Adjective
  • This relaxed pick is incredibly soft, really cute, and surprisingly easy to style.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • The tasting terrace, one of the loveliest places in the region, is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with its relaxed atmosphere and sweeping views of the estate’s vineyards.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Definition of relaxed
Adjective
  • Neon proved especially shrewd handling its follow-up, selling McCarthy’s witchy haunted inn as both prestige fare and an accessible vehicle for star Adam Scott.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
  • Mary — played by Deirdre O’Connell, who has been in a million things, most recently The Penguin and Eddington — is too shrewd to just agree to sell the air rights for whatever price best suits Jimmy & Co.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of shrewd
Adjective
  • The bomb-throwing influencer Kat Abughazaleh, 27, won the portions of that district in Chicago’s North Side lakefront neighborhoods, but suburban votes gave savvy Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss the win.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • But are the most savvy shoppers at the car dealership this Fourth of July?
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of savvy

Browse Nearby Words

cannons
canny
canoe
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Cite this Entry

“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canny. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of canny for Spanish Speakers

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