clever or skillful, especially in a crafty or cunning way, showing creative skill or taste

artful dodger, artful tongue, artful deception

Formal and Informal Expressions of artful

In different contexts, you can replace 'artful' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'skillful, cunning' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'crafty, sly' is a commonplace synonym.

artful: Explore its Definition & Usage

artful Definition

1clever or skillful, especially in a crafty or cunning way
2showing creative skill or taste

Using artful: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "artful" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He was an artful negotiator, always getting the best deal.
Example
She used artful language to persuade the jury.
Example
The painting was an artful masterpiece.

artful Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for artful

Antonyms for artful

Phrases with artful

artful dodger
a person who is skilled at avoiding trouble, especially by being deceitful
Example
He's an artful dodger when it comes to paying his bills.
artful tongue
the ability to speak in a clever and persuasive way
Example
She used her artful tongue to convince him to change his mind.
artful deception
the use of clever and cunning tactics to deceive someone
Example
The con artist used artful deception to steal money from unsuspecting victims.

Origins of artful

from Middle English 'art', meaning 'skill'

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Summary: artful in Brief

'Artful' [ˈɑːtfʊl] describes someone or something that is clever or skillful, often in a crafty or cunning way. It can also refer to something that shows creative skill or taste, as in 'The painting was an artful masterpiece.' Phrases like 'artful dodger' and 'artful tongue' use 'artful' to denote a person's skill at avoiding trouble or speaking in a clever and persuasive way.