Definitions
- Describing someone who is clever and able to achieve their goals through skillful means. - Referring to a person or animal that is able to outsmart others through intelligence and strategy. - Talking about an action or plan that is cleverly designed to achieve a specific outcome.
- Describing someone who is sneaky and deceptive in their actions. - Referring to a person or animal that is able to deceive others through trickery and deceit. - Talking about an action or plan that is done in a secretive and dishonest way.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe behavior that involves deception or trickery.
- 2Both words can be used to describe people or animals.
- 3Both words can be used to describe actions or plans.
What is the difference?
- 1Attitude: Cunning is often associated with positive qualities such as intelligence and skill, while sly has a negative connotation of deceitfulness and sneakiness.
- 2Intent: Cunning is often used to describe actions or plans that are cleverly designed to achieve a specific outcome, while sly is often used to describe actions or plans that are done in a secretive and dishonest way.
- 3Emotion: Cunning is often associated with admiration or respect, while sly is often associated with suspicion or distrust.
- 4Usage: Cunning is more commonly used in formal contexts, while sly is more commonly used in informal contexts.
- 5Degree: Cunning implies a higher level of intelligence and skill, while sly implies a lower level of intelligence and a reliance on deception.
Remember this!
While both cunning and sly describe behavior that involves deception or trickery, there are significant differences between the two words. Cunning is often associated with positive qualities such as intelligence and skill, and is used to describe actions or plans that are cleverly designed to achieve a specific outcome. On the other hand, sly has a negative connotation of deceitfulness and sneakiness, and is often used to describe actions or plans that are done in a secretive and dishonest way.
