Added 9 October 2026
artful
/ˈɑːtf(ʊ)l/ adjective
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about artful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness.
an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time
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Marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft.
the artful dodger
Origin
From art (“skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, with the sense of being full of, tending to, or thoroughly possessing the quality expressed by the noun).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)