adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈɑːtf(ʊ)l/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈɑɹtf(ə)l/
CMU ARPABET:AA1 R T F AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Characterized by, or performed with, cleverness or contrivance; clever, ingenious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Not naturally produced; artificial; imitative.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Exhibiting or using much art or skill; dexterous; skilful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adroit
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose; crafty, cunning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Knowledgeable about the liberal arts; learned, wise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the artful dodger
an artful choice of metaphors
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: artless
7
adjective
Meaning 7
not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness- David Cannadine
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time
a disingenuous excuse
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: disingenuous
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From art (“skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, with the sense of being full of, tending to, or thoroughly possessing the quality expressed by the noun).
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
incə
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Azerbaijani:
zərif
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
French:
artistique
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Galician:
arteiro
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Galician:
mañoso
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
German:
geschickt
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
German:
trickreich
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Italian:
abile
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Macedonian:
вешт
(vešt)
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Portuguese:
artístico
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Portuguese:
hábil
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Spanish:
diestro
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Spanish:
hábil
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Spanish:
habiloso
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
Spanish:
ingenioso
— exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful
French:
artificieux
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Galician:
arteiro
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Galician:
astuto
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Italian:
astuto
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Portuguese:
ladino
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Portuguese:
astuto
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Scottish Gaelic:
seòlta
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Spanish:
astuto
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Spanish:
taimado
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Spanish:
ladino
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
Spanish:
artero
— skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning
