What does "cunning" mean? Can I say "smarter" instead of "cunning" in this context?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Although "smart" and "clever" both can be considered to have somewhat similar meanings to "cunning," the connotation is different. "Cunning" is an adjective often used to describe someone who is able to achieve their desired goals by deceit or underhanded tricks. Thus, it holds a negative connotation. If someone were to say you were clever, that would be a compliment. If someone were to say that you were cunning, however, that would not necessarily be a compliment but indicate that you are a person who gets what you want by relying on lies or tricks. Ex: That man is a cunning fellow. Be careful. Ex: The criminal was cunning and managed to evade the police every time.
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