sly
Clever at tricking people in a sneaky way.
sly in a sentence
- With a sly grin, the fox waited for the hens to wander closer.
- Our sly cat pretends to be asleep, then quietly pinches a fish finger from my plate.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to sly?
- Afrank
- Bhonest
- Csneaky
- Dstraightforward
Show the answer
C: sneaky. The other three mean the opposite of sly.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to sly?
- Asneaky
- Bstraightforward
- Ctricky
- Dcrafty
Show the answer
B: straightforward. The other three mean nearly the same as sly.
Words that mean something similar
sneaky, crafty, tricky
Words that mean the opposite
straightforward, honest, frank
Careful: sly is not furtive
Furtive is about hiding what you do. Sly is about being clever at tricking others. Read why children mix them up.
More words about character & personality
- smug: Too pleased with yourself in a way that annoys other people.
- sober: Serious and calm, not silly or playful.
- sprightly: Lively and full of energy, especially for someone old.
- staunch: Very loyal and firm in your support.
- steadfast: Staying firm and not giving up, no matter what happens.
- stern: Strict and serious, expecting to be obeyed.
- stubborn: Refusing to change your mind, even when you might be wrong.
- tenacious: Holding on and refusing to give up.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test