Artful — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈärt-fəl/ art·ful

Meaning & Definition of Artful

Artful (adjective)

  1. performed with or showing art or skill
  2. using or characterized by art and skill, dexterous
  3. adroit in attaining an end usually by insinuating or indirect means, wily

Artful (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means

    "the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying"

    similar: beguiling, cagey, crafty, cunning, cute, designing, devious, dodgy (chiefly British), foxy, guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily
    related: astute, facile, glib, sharp, crooked, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent, insinuating, knavish, Machiavellian, oblique, serpentine, shady, shifty, slippery, sneaky, treacherous, underhand, underhanded, unscrupulous, backhanded, double-dealing, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued, two-faced, circuitous, circular, roundabout, clandestine, concealed, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, calculating, plotting
    opposite: artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning
    near: obvious, open, patent, plain, public, unconcealed, aboveboard, candid, direct, forthright, frank, honest, natural, outspoken, plainspoken, real, simple, sincere, straightforward, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious, unvarnished, childlike, impressionable, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly, unforced, unstudied, trustful, trusting

  2. showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing

    "that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits"

    similar: clever, creative, imaginative, ingenious, innovative, inventive
    related: adventurous, fresh, groundbreaking, novel, original, visionary, cleverish, gadgety, gimmicky, convenient, handy, neat, nifty, practical, useful, complex, sophisticated, adroit, deft, dexterous, expert, handsome, tricky, brainy, intelligent, sharp, smart
    opposite: uncreative, unimaginative
    near: dull, pedantic, pedestrian, stodgy, assembly-line, canned, cookie-cutter, derivative, hackneyed, unoriginal, impractical, useless

  3. accomplished with trained ability

    "that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation"

    similar: adroit, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, practiced, skillful, virtuoso, workmanlike
    related: facile, smooth, artistic, creative, fancy, ingenious, neat, adept, clever, cunning, able, adequate, capable, competent
    opposite: amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful
    near: awkward, clumsy, crude, klutzy, ineffective, ineffectual, incompetent, inept

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Artful

The most common words with a similar meaning to Artful:

Chiefly British: dodgy
beguiling, cagey, crafty, cunning, cute, designing, devious, foxy, guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily, clever, creative, imaginative, ingenious, innovative, inventive, adroit, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, practiced, skillful, virtuoso, workmanlike

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Artful

Words with the opposite meaning of Artful:

artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning, uncreative, unimaginative, amateur, amateurish, rude, unprofessional, unskillful

Related Words for Artful

astute, facile, glib, sharp, crooked, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent, insinuating, knavish, Machiavellian, oblique, serpentine, shady, shifty, slippery, sneaky, treacherous, underhand, underhanded, unscrupulous, backhanded, double-dealing, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued

Near Antonyms of Artful

obvious, open, patent, plain, public, unconcealed, aboveboard, candid, direct, forthright, frank, honest, natural, outspoken, plainspoken, real, simple, sincere, straightforward, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious, unvarnished, childlike, impressionable, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly, unforced, unstudied

Word Forms of Artful

Derived words: artfully (adverb), artfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Artful

art:1 + -ful:1

First known use: 1583

Frequently Asked Questions about Artful

What does "Artful" mean?

"Artful" means performed with or showing art or skill. As an adjective, it is defined as: performed with or showing art or skill. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Artful"?

Other words for "Artful" include beguiling, cagey, crafty, cunning, cute, designing, devious and dodgy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Artful" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Artful"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Artful". Common alternatives include beguiling, cagey, crafty, cunning, cute, designing, devious, dodgy, foxy and guileful.

What is the opposite of "Artful"?

Antonyms of "Artful" include artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning, uncreative, unimaginative and amateur. Near antonyms include obvious, open, patent and plain.

How do you use "Artful" in a sentence?

Examples of "Artful" in a sentence: "the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying"; "that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits"; "that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation".

Is "Artful" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Artful" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Artful"?

"Artful" is pronounced /ˈärt-fəl/ and divided into syllables as art·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Artful"?

"Artful" comes from art:1 + -ful:1. First known use: 1583.