What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
slyness
Example
He had a sly smile on his face when he told the lie. [sly: adjective]
Example
She used her slyness to manipulate the situation to her advantage. [slyness: noun]
cunning
Example
The cunning fox outsmarted the hunters and escaped. [cunning: adjective]
Example
Her cunning allowed her to negotiate a better deal for herself. [cunning: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cunning is more commonly used than slyness in everyday language. Cunning is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while slyness is less common and may be considered more informal or colloquial.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between slyness and cunning?
While slyness is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, cunning can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
