artful
adjective
art·ful ˈärt-fəl 
1
: performed with or showing art or skill
an artful performance on the violin
2
a
: using or characterized by art and skill : dexterous
an artful prose stylist
b
: adroit in attaining an end usually by insinuating or indirect means : wily
an artful cross-examiner
3
: artificial
trim walks and artful bowers
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth artfully
ˈärt-fə-lē
adverb artfulness noun
Did you know?
A writer may produce an artful piece of prose, one that's clearly and elegantly written. The same writer might also make an artful argument, one that cleverly leaves out certain details and plays up others so as to make a stronger case. In the first instance, the prose is well crafted; in the second, the argument might instead be called crafty. But even though both uses are correct, most of us still use artful somewhat differently from artistic.
Synonyms
- beguiling
- cagey
- cagy
- crafty
- cunning
- cute
- designing
- devious
- dodgy [chiefly British]
- foxy
- guileful
- scheming
- shrewd
- slick
- sly
- subtle
- tricky
- wily
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits
Recent Examples on the Web Their chat gets a visual lift from artful graphics that redesign the setting from moment to moment. Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Near the Eiffel Tower, the three-bedroom Rue de Bourgogne apartment is characterized by artful interiors, with geometric titles and distinct beams. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 The artful shoot, captured by photographer Zhong Lin, showcases the Being the Ricardos actress in a playful mood. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 Each 45-minute episode delves into a particular chef's psyche and highlights their craft through artful videos of their food, accompanied by dramatic classical music. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 But now, his artful live show execution has matched his studio creativity. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 The team then left the soft, textural, raw plaster in the addition as-is, which imbued it with an artful, atmospheric feel. Marni Elyse Katz, House Beautiful, 17 Aug. 2022 Hidden among mangroves, the in-the-sand, fine-dining restaurant specializes in modern Mexican fare with artful plating. Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Every piece boasts artful and intentional tailoring: cutouts that skim the sides of stretchy black pants and a tank top with a just-so extended sleeve for asymmetrical flair. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2022 See More
Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Near the Eiffel Tower, the three-bedroom Rue de Bourgogne apartment is characterized by artful interiors, with geometric titles and distinct beams. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 The artful shoot, captured by photographer Zhong Lin, showcases the Being the Ricardos actress in a playful mood. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 Each 45-minute episode delves into a particular chef's psyche and highlights their craft through artful videos of their food, accompanied by dramatic classical music. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 But now, his artful live show execution has matched his studio creativity. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 The team then left the soft, textural, raw plaster in the addition as-is, which imbued it with an artful, atmospheric feel. Marni Elyse Katz, House Beautiful, 17 Aug. 2022 Hidden among mangroves, the in-the-sand, fine-dining restaurant specializes in modern Mexican fare with artful plating. Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Every piece boasts artful and intentional tailoring: cutouts that skim the sides of stretchy black pants and a tank top with a just-so extended sleeve for asymmetrical flair. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
art entry 1 + -ful entry 1
First Known Use
1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
artful
adjective
art·ful ˈärt-fəl
1
: done with or showing art or skill
artful writing
2
: clever at taking advantage
an artful salesman
artfulness
noun
1
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means with well-practiced artfulness, he convinced his mother he was sick enough to stay home from school but not sick enough for a visit to the doctor's office Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cunning
- subtlety
- subtleness
- slyness
- canniness
- deviousness
- craftiness
- guile
- sneakiness
- slickness
- wiliness
- craft
- artifice
- cunningness
- caginess
- ease
- inventiveness
- cleverness
- foxiness
- guilefulness
- ingeniousness
- ingenuity
- shrewdness
- finesse
- design
- cageyness
- care
- calculation
- sharpness
- duplicity
- savvy
- shiftiness
- underhandedness
- facility
- deceitfulness
2
as in skillfulness
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something building a ship model requires a painstaking artfulness I don't have Synonyms & Similar Words
- skillfulness
- skill
- artistry
- art
- cunning
- adeptness
- creativity
- deftness
- cleverness
- adroitness
- masterfulness
- proficiency
- ease
- finesse
- talent
- inventiveness
- artifice
- expertise
- dexterity
- knack
- ingenuity
- craft
- aptitude
- handiness
- experience
- expertness
- flair
- learning
- knowledge
- gift
- know-how
- bent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- artlessness
- ineptitude
- ineptness
- clumsiness
- amateurishness
- awkwardness
- crudeness
- incompetence
- rudeness
- maladroitness
- inability
- incapacity
- inefficiency
- inadequacy
- ineffectuality
- ineffectiveness
- inefficacy
- incapability
- klutziness
- ineffectualness
- inadequateness