canny

1 of 3

adjective

can·​ny ˈka-nē How to pronounce canny (audio)
cannier; canniest
Synonyms of canny
1
: clever, shrewd
a canny lawyer
also : prudent
canny investments
2
chiefly Scotland
a
: careful, steady
also : restrained
b
: quiet, snug
A canny pub, serving decent food at a decent price …—Brian Severs
cannily
ˈka-nə-lē How to pronounce canny (audio)
adverb
canniness
ˈka-nē-nəs How to pronounce canny (audio)
noun

canny

2 of 3

adverb

Scotland
: in a canny manner : carefully

canniness

3 of 3

noun

can·​ni·​ness ˈka-nē-nəs How to pronounce canniness (audio)
plural -es
: a canny propensity or trait: such as
a
: prudence, wariness
b
: cleverness, shrewdness
c
: foresightedness, sagacity

Synonyms of canny

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Adjective

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Examples of canny in a Sentence

Adjective a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Chelsea turning a profit on Liam Delap showed just how canny an investment young English forwards are right now. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Still, the novel properly belongs to Jordan, a creation as canny and protean as the story itself. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Already an industry veteran at the tender age of 13, Jackson made this first official solo foray — a canny move by Motown head Berry Gordy to further capitalize on the Jackson 5’s immense popularity. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026 The partnership between two outsiders clawing their way in, joined by an equally canny journalist played by Claire Foy, comes to shape Fleet Street, the London thoroughfare where scribblers plied their trade, in Lamb’s and Murdoch’s images. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for canny

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

originally Scots & regional northern English, going back to early Scots, "free from risk, sagacious, prudent, cautious," probably from can "ability" (noun derivative of can can entry 1) + -y -y entry 1

Noun

canny + -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of canny was in 1596

Rhymes for canny

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Browse Nearby Words

cannulation
canny
canny moment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canny. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

canny

adjective
can·​ny
ˈkan-ē
cannier; canniest
: watchful of one's own interest
cannily
ˈkan-ᵊl-ē
adverb
canniness
ˈkan-ē-nəs
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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