Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

wiliness

noun

/ˈwīlɪnɪs/

Definition

The quality of being cunning or sly; the ability to achieve goals through clever and deceptive means.

Examples

His wiliness allowed him to outsmart his opponents during negotiations.
She admired the wiliness of the fox in the story who always managed to escape danger.
In chess, a player’s wiliness can be their greatest asset, deceiving their opponent with unexpected moves.

Meaning

Wiliness refers to a cleverness that often involves trickery or deceit to accomplish something. It implies a shrewdness that can sometimes be manipulative.