What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
guileful
Example
The politician was guileful in his speech, using carefully crafted words to manipulate the audience. [guileful: adjective]
Example
She used her guileful tactics to get what she wanted from her colleagues. [guileful: noun]
crafty
Example
She was a crafty artist, creating beautiful sculptures out of recycled materials. [crafty: adjective]
Example
He came up with a crafty solution to fix the broken machine. [crafty: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crafty is more commonly used than guileful in everyday language. Crafty is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while guileful is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between guileful and crafty?
Guileful is more formal than crafty, which is more commonly used in informal contexts. However, both words can be used in both formal and informal settings depending on the context.