foxy

adjective

ˈfäk-sē How to pronounce foxy (audio)
Definition of foxynext
as in cute
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means the oft-told story of the foxy flatterer who works her way up the ladder of success by stepping on people as she goes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foxy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foxy are artful, crafty, cunning, slick, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When could artful be used to replace foxy?

While the synonyms artful and foxy are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When is it sensible to use crafty instead of foxy?

The words crafty and foxy can be used in similar contexts, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When might cunning be a better fit than foxy?

In some situations, the words cunning and foxy are roughly equivalent. However, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When can slick be used instead of foxy?

While in some cases nearly identical to foxy, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

Where would sly be a reasonable alternative to foxy?

The meanings of sly and foxy largely overlap; however, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

In what contexts can tricky take the place of foxy?

The words tricky and foxy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When would wily be a good substitute for foxy?

The synonyms wily and foxy are sometimes interchangeable, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foxy Thereza Wright-Morris This foxy lady is the wife of Dallas Mavericks power forward and NBA champion Markieff Morris. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 June 2024 Richard Linklater directs this foxy caper with buoyant good humor. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 June 2024 Feeling foxy? —Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023 Meanwhile, Van Halen was young, hungry and -- thanks to foxy frontman David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen, the most jaw-dropping guitarist since Jimi Hendrix – dripping with star-power. —Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 27 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for foxy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foxy
  1. cute
  2. cunning
  3. subtle
Adjective
  • At a press screening of the film in March, these cute, interstitial clips drew big laughs.
    — Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 7 May 2025
  • Wine corks also make cute place card holders and wine glass charms.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 May 2025
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Premiering in January 2023, The Traitors has gone on to widespread acclaim, even winning Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program (Alan Cumming on cunning form).
    — Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • In real life, most would-be Proud Boys don’t have cunning, progressive housemates who will throw away their gun parts.
    — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • Our physical body is the antenna for all of these sensations; a relaxed, thawed body can pick up more subtle signals.
    — Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • There are subtle peacock tail motifs throughout the hotel, from the geometric patterns in intricate kumiko woodwork headboards to Japanese washi paper designs in the elevator.
    — Amber Gibson, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of subtle

Browse Nearby Words

fox-trotting
foxy
foy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foxy. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

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