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Definition of "sly" []

  • Clever or cunning, especially in the practice of deceit. (adjective)
  • Stealthy or surreptitious: took a sly look at the letter on the table. (adjective)
  • Playfully mischievous: a sly laugh. (adjective)
  • On the sly In a way intended to escape notice: took extra payments on the sly. (idiom)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "sly" in a sentence
  • "Wes Anderson animated a classic Roald Dahl story and cast the vocal talents of George Clooney as the title sly fox."
  • "I also would like to write in my vote for Bruce Campbell to be in this movie. joe story sounds decent. but i don't know how good the script will be if sly is writing it. the cast sounds good, but i don't know how well jet li will fit into a more traditional action movie rather than a kung fu movie."
  • "She held her expression sly and walked Runtly away."