Cagey — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Cagey (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

   "a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district"

   similar: artful, beguiling, 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. slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty

   "when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job"

   similar: disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant, reticent
   related: uneager, unenthusiastic, averse, unwilling, ambivalent, conflicted, doubtful, faltering, halting, indecisive, infirm, irresolute, questioning, skeptical, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly, fainthearted, shy, timid
   opposite: disposed, inclined
   near: eager, enthusiastic, glad, happy, keen, ready, willing, certain, decided, determined, resolute, sure, unquestioning