ARTFUL

artful

(adjective) marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft; “the artful dodger”; “an artful choice of metaphors”

disingenuous, artful

(adjective) not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; “an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time”- David Cannadine; “a disingenuous excuse”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

artful (comparative more artful, superlative most artful)

Cunning; tending toward indirect dealings; crafty.

Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill.

Artificial; imitative.

Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous; skillful.

Synonyms

• See also wily

Anagrams

• Futral

Source: Wiktionary

Art"ful, a. Etym: [From Art.]

1. Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill. [Archaic] "Artful strains." "Artful terms." Milton.

2. Artificial; imitative. Addison.

3. Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous; skillful. He [was] too artful a writer to set down events in exact historical order. Dryden.

4. Cunning; disposed to cunning indirectness of dealing; crafty; as, an artful boy. [The usual sense.] Artful in speech, in action, and in mind. Pope. The artful revenge of various animals. Darwin.

Syn.

– Cunning; skillful; adroit; dexterous; crafty; tricky; deceitful; designing. See Cunning.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition