Word: crafty (adjective)

Associations

"Crafty" means being clever in a tricky or sneaky way. It often describes someone who can solve problems or get what they want by being smart but sometimes a bit dishonest or secretive.

• "The crafty fox escaped from the hunters." Here, it shows the fox is smart and sneaky.
• "She made a crafty plan to surprise her friend." This means a clever, well-thought-out plan.
• "He is crafty in business, always finding ways to get a good deal." This means smart and skillful, sometimes with a hint of trickiness.

Synonym: "Clever" is similar but usually more positive and less about trickiness. "Crafty" often has a small idea of being sneaky, while "clever" is just smart.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• "sly" (more about being sneaky or secretive)
• "wily" (very similar, means smart and tricky)
• "shrewd" (more about being smart and practical, less sneaky)
• "clever" (more neutral and positive)

Changing the word changes the feeling: "sly" feels more secret and maybe bad, "shrewd" feels smart and practical, "crafty" is in between.

Deconstruction

"Crafty" comes from the word "craft," which means skill or ability to make or do something. The suffix "-y" turns it into an adjective meaning "full of craft" or "having skill." Over time, "crafty" came to mean skillful but often in a sneaky or tricky way.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you or someone you know was crafty? What did they do?
• How is being crafty different from being honest? Is it always bad to be crafty?
• In stories, why do animals like foxes often get called crafty? What does that tell us about how people see cleverness?