sly
UK: slaɪ | US: slaɪ
adj. cunning or deceitful in a clever way
adj. playful or mischievous in a teasing manner
The word "sly" traces back to Old Norse slǣgr (clever, cunning) and Old English slēag (sly, cunning). It originally described someone who was clever or skillful, often with a negative connotation of deceit. Over time, it retained its core meaning of cleverness but expanded to include playful mischief. Unlike many modern English words, "sly" is monomorphic—its spelling and meaning have remained compact without clear prefix/root/suffix divisions.
The fox gave a sly grin before darting into the bushes.
She played a sly trick on her brother by hiding his shoes.
His sly remarks often left people unsure whether to laugh or feel insulted.
The politician used sly tactics to avoid answering the question directly.
With a sly wink, he hinted that he knew more than he was letting on.