artful

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artful

/ˈɑːtf(ʊ)l/ US
/ˈɑɹtf(ə)l/ US

Where it comes from

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).

adjective more artful · most artful · artfull

Characterized by, or performed with, cleverness or contrivance; clever, ingenious. The nights ſtrange proſpects, made to feede the eyes; / With Artfull fyres, mounted in the skies: / Graced with horred claps of ſulphury thunders; / May make your mind, Iehouahs greater wonders.
Not naturally produced; artificial; imitative. Some of this Artfull coulour now I want, / VVhich from the Muſes I deſire to borrow, / In Melancholly Priam to diſpaint / The perfect Image and true face of Sorrow, […]
Exhibiting or using much art or skill; dexterous; skilful. [W]e, in changed ſhapes, act Ovid's tales, / […] / Then vvill I haue thee in more moderne formes, / Attired like ſome ſprightly dame of France, / Braue Tuſcan lady, or proud Spaniſh beauty; / Sometimes, vnto the Perſian Sophies vvife; / Or the grand-Signiors miſtreſſe; and, for change, / To one of o
Similar: adroit
especially Skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose; crafty, cunning. Here, again, were shadows on the window-blind of guests assembling; and there a group of handsome girls, all hooded and fur-booted, and all chattering at once, tripped lightly off to some near neighbour's house; where, wo upon the single man who saw them enter—artful witches: well they knew it—in a
Similar: deceitful, underhand, astute, artful, cautelous, crafty, cunning, devious, diabolical, foxlike, foxy, frood
obsolete Knowledgeable about the liberal arts; learned, wise.

Translations

Every language

adj exhibiting or using much art or skill — see also dexterous, skilful

Español	diestro, hábil, habiloso, ingenioso
Português	artístico, hábil
Français	artistique
Deutsch	geschickt, trickreich
Italiano	abile

adj skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose — see also crafty, cunning

Español	astuto, taimado, ladino, artero
Português	ladino, astuto
Français	artificieux
Italiano	astuto

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MLA

"artful." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/artful. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

artful. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/artful

Chicago

"artful." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/artful.

BibTeX

@misc{artful_2026,
  title = {artful},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/artful},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}