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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
sly
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'sly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe people or their behaviors that are clever but in a way that is not completely honest. For example: "Tom has a sly way of getting what he wants without actually asking for it."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Alternative expressions(10)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
Related: Office employees should be on feet for four hours of working day, study says If you are reading this at your desk at work – perhaps on the sly while your boss has a loud conversation, or on the downlow while you avoid making an important phone call because for whatever reason you have to psych yourself up to make a phone call – stand up.
News & Media
But I can't take a sly, disgusting reference to the Great Famine of 1845-1852, sometimes known as the potato famine.
News & Media
Let us rather call it injustice, but of a sly effective order, based entirely on cruel knowledge of the resistance of the weak, their capacity for pain, humiliation and misery.
News & Media
Shortly thereafter, a salacious video for Miley Cyrus's Adore You materialised, in which the singer runs a sly hand down her body to signify that she too will procure her own pleasure – a routine she's also decided to play up on her current Bangerz tour.
News & Media
The first thing an out-of-work actor does upon returning home, even if it's only from the end of the garden for a sly fag, is to look at the answering machine.
News & Media
As ever, Brown lightens the whole effect with sly touches of humour: where you might expect to see lifebelts he has hung a row of scurvy-beating cabbages.
News & Media
Dubost and Carette play a deliciously sly and comic cat-and-mouse game with the absurdly rigid Modot, especially during the after-dinner entertainment, a breathtaking sequence described by the critic Richard Roud as something from "a Marx brothers film scripted by a Feydeau who suddenly acquired a tragic sense".
News & Media
No, more of a sly dig at George Osborne's self-defeating fiscal austerity which is dragging Britain back towards recession, Mandelson might say.
News & Media
At this distance the best we could agree about Trouble Every Day is that the sly and moody soundtrack by British band Tindersticks is superb.
News & Media
Artistically, however, it pales beside the sly wit and beauty of Hu Wei's The Butter Lamp, in which a photographer's portraiture of Tibetan villagers gives way to a larger statement on cultural myopia.
News & Media
Paul has been sly about positioning on this, however; at the Value Voters conference earlier this month, Paul gave a rousingly xenophobic speech heavy on Biblical allusions to Muslims' perfidy… he just declined to say we should bomb them.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Pair "sly" with nouns that represent actions or expressions (e.g., "sly glance", "sly remark") to enhance the descriptive impact.
Common error
Avoid using "sly" when the intent is merely to describe something as clever without the implication of deception or mischief. Use "clever" or "ingenious" instead.
Source & Trust
91%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The word "sly" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a quality of cunning, secretiveness, or mischievousness. Ludwig shows this in examples like "a sly dig" or "a sly glance". Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable word in written English.
Frequent in
News & Media
98%
Formal & Business
1%
Science
1%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "sly" is a common adjective used to describe something or someone cunning or mischievous in a subtle way. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in English. The analysis of examples reveals that "sly" is most often found in news and media contexts. When aiming for precision, writers should understand the subtle differences between "sly" and its synonyms such as "cunning" or "wily", as "sly" suggests a cleverness that avoids direct confrontation, whereas the others may imply a stronger intent to deceive. Understanding these nuances helps writers to enhance their expression and avoid common mistakes in word choice.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
cunning
Emphasizes cleverness and deceptiveness in achieving a goal.
wily
Suggests skill in using deception to gain an advantage.
artful
Highlights the skillful and often deceptive nature of an action.
furtive
Implies secretive and cautious behavior to avoid being noticed.
surreptitious
Indicates something done secretly and stealthily.
underhand
Suggests dishonesty and unfairness in methods used.
stealthy
Focuses on moving or acting in a quiet, careful way.
secretive
Emphasizes the act of keeping things hidden or private.
devious
Implies a willingness to use trickery and manipulation.
guileful
Highlights the use of deceit and trickery.
FAQs
How can I use "sly" in a sentence?
You can use "sly" to describe someone who is cunning and mischievous, such as, "He had a "sly grin" on his face as he planned his prank."
What words are similar to "sly"?
Is it better to say "sly" or "sneaky"?
"Sly" and "sneaky" are similar, but "sly" often implies a cleverness or wit, while "sneaky" emphasizes the secretive and underhanded nature of the action. Use "sly" when the focus is on the cleverness and "sneaky" when the focus is on the secretiveness.
What is the difference between "sly" and "devious"?
"Sly" suggests a subtle cunning, while "devious" implies a more elaborate and often dishonest approach. "Devious" suggests a greater degree of manipulation and complexity than "sly".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
91%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested