artful

Everyday

1. Artful means clever at getting what you want, especially by tricking people; crafty. tree →
2. Artful can mean done with skill and cleverness. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, an artful character is cunning, like the Artful Dodger, the young pickpocket in Oliver Twist. In The Wind in the Willows the weasels and stoats can be artful, and so can Toad in his disguises. It can be praise («an artful design») but more often warns of trickery.

Examples

• The Artful Dodger was a clever young thief. tree →
• The fox was artful and fooled the hens. tree →
• Toad made an artful escape dressed as a washerwoman. tree →
• It was an artful way to get extra pudding. tree →
• She made an artful arrangement of flowers. tree →
• Don't trust him — he's very artful. tree →
• “Then do try,” said the artful hare, “and I will count the number from here!” tree →

Note

Adverb: artfully. Similar: crafty, cunning, sly, wily. Not the same as «artistic», though both come from «art».