Antonyms for canniness

Grammar : Noun

Spell : kan-ee

Phonetic Transcription : ˈkæn i

Definition of canniness

Origin : 1630s, Scottish and northern English formation from can (v.1) in its sense of "know how to," + -y (2). "Knowing," hence, "careful." A doublet of cunning that flowed into distinct senses. Often used superciliously of Scots by their southern neighbors (and their American cousins).
The Canny Scot is so well known as scarcely to require description. He carries caution, cunning, and selfishness to excess. Deceitful when a purpose is to be accomplished, he is not habitually deceitful. One thing he never loses sight of--his own interest. But of his own interest he is not the most enlightened judge. ["The Natural History of Scotsmen," in "The Argosy," December 1865]
Related: Cannily; canniness.

As in art : noun cunning
As in precaution : noun carefulness; preventative measure
As in one-upmanship : noun back-and-forth competition
As in calculation : noun forethought
As in prudence : noun carefulness
As in caution : noun alertness, carefulness
As in craftiness : noun artfulness
As in foxiness : noun artfulness
As in cleverness : noun brightness, ingenuity
As in slyness : noun artfulness
As in craft : noun deceit, scheme
As in discretion : noun caution, judgment
As in foresight : noun mental preparedness
As in forethought : noun mental preparedness

Example sentences :

Malcolm, with the canniness of his kind, at once told her he had had no luck.
Extract from : « Labrador Days » by Wilfred Thomason Grenfell

A dog is singularly destitute in what is called in Scotland, canniness.
Extract from : « Cats » by W. Gordon Stables

Carson, with the canniness so characteristic of the American, was not to be so easily convinced.
Extract from : « The Wolf Cub » by Patrick Casey

It was in the morning that the landlady showed her canniness.
Extract from : « Our Journey to the Hebrides » by Joseph Pennell and Elizabeth Robins Pennell

He gave a remarkable proof of his canniness in the successful outcome of his bargaining with the trustees of the British Museum.
Extract from : « Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists » by Various

People looked askance upon them as Scots, while innkeepers hated them for their poverty and their canniness.
Extract from : « The Great North Road: York to Edinburgh » by Charles G. Harper

Andrew Carnegie tells a good story illustrating the canniness of the Scot.
Extract from : « Among the Humorists and After Dinner Speakers, Vol. I » by Various

He was, in a way, a Paul Revere spreading intelligence, and with Scotch canniness made a good bargain for himself.
Extract from : « The Alaskan » by James Oliver Curwood

With the canniness of her new-found love, Avice approached the subject in a roundabout way.
Extract from : « The Mark of Cain » by Carolyn Wells

The verses rang with New England canniness, and the familiar dialect acquired a dignity never before acknowledged.
Extract from : « Children's Stories in American Literature, 1660-1860 » by Henrietta Christian Wright

Synonyms for canniness

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019