Cunning and Deft

Cunning

Cunning adjective - Skillful with the hands.
Usage example: only the most cunning cabinetmaker could have crafted such a beautifully proportioned chest of drawers

Deft is a synonym for cunning in imaginative topic. In some cases you can use "Deft" instead the word "Cunning" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like skilful, shrewd.

Nearby Word: cunningly

Deft

Deft adjective - Accomplished with trained ability.
Usage example: a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over

Cunning is a synonym for deft. You can use "Cunning" instead the word "Deft" as an adjective or a noun.

Nearby Words: deftness, deftly
Cite this Source
Deft and Cunning. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/deft
Cunning & Deft. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/deft>.
Deft or Cunning. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/deft.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cunning" and "deft" have occurred on timeline