Cunning means clever in a sly, crafty way, especially when someone uses their intelligence to trick others or get what they want through sneaky methods. A cunning fox in a fable might outsmart the farmer by digging under the fence at its weakest point. A cunning villain in a story doesn't rely on strength but on careful schemes and deception.

The word often carries a negative feeling because cunning suggests using your smarts for selfish or dishonest purposes. In contrast, we might admire someone's cleverness or ingenuity when they solve a problem honestly.

However, cunning isn't always bad. When pioneers or explorers faced dangerous situations, their cunning helped them survive by outsmarting predators or finding creative solutions to problems. A character in a novel might use cunning to escape from a truly evil captor, and we cheer for their resourcefulness.

The difference often comes down to intent: are you using your quick thinking to help yourself at others' expense, or to protect yourself or others from real danger? That distinction matters.

As a noun, cunning can also mean skill at tricking or planning in a sneaky way: “The thief escaped through sheer cunning.”