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Antonyms for canny

Grammar : Adj
Spell : kan-ee
Phonetic Transcription : ˈkæn i

Definition of canny

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.
  • adj clever, artful
Example sentences :
  • He said it was "Kahore pai;" or, as a Scotsman would put it, "no canny."
  • Extract from : « Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2) » by William Delisle Hay
  • So reasoned the canny Scot, but he held his tongue to his Lilias.
  • Extract from : « Two Penniless Princesses » by Charlotte M. Yonge
  • And old Angus wagged his head and said, "Canny lass, the widdy!"
  • Extract from : « They of the High Trails » by Hamlin Garland
  • Turning, I found the canny swain had followed me on an investigating tour.
  • Extract from : « Lords of the North » by A. C. Laut
  • It might be a good thing, said the canny Scot, to back him up and reap the benefit.
  • Extract from : « Under Fire » by Charles King
  • That uncle of yours, Mary, heth he's as canny a keoghboy as I've seen.
  • Extract from : « The Drone » by Rutherford Mayne
  • But the canny wife of the Provost, douce man, plucked him by the sleeve.
  • Extract from : « Border Ghost Stories » by Howard Pease
  • The Scotch were either too "canny" or too dull to "fash" themselves about it.
  • Extract from : « More Science From an Easy Chair » by Sir E. Ray (Edwin Ray) Lankester
  • Ill be her nurse, and Ill gang aboot on my stockin soles as canny as pussy.
  • Extract from : « Spare Hours » by John Brown
  • The farmer was back in ten minutes, with a canny face that defied reading.
  • Extract from : « Greyfriars Bobby » by Eleanor Atkinson

Synonyms for canny

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