Standard Lemma guide

artfulness

noun · 2 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being artful or of acting in an artful manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being adroit in taking unfair advantage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: artlessness

Broader terms: disingenuousness

Narrower terms: cunning

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English artful Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English artfulness From artful + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: сръчност (srǎčnost) — quality of being artful
  • Bulgarian: ловкост (lovkost) — quality of being artful
  • Irish: ealaíontacht — quality of being artful