Words / C2

GYL/ɡaɪl/

Guile is clever, often dishonest, cunning: with guile, without guile (innocent). Cunning is close; deceit is blunter. Guilt is the fact of having done wrong — different word. Beguile is charm or trick. Do not praise exam technique as guile in a school report unless you mean trickery.

Meaning

Clever, often dishonest, cunning.

Examples

• “He sold the idea with charm and a little guile.”
• “He steered the vote with charm and a little guile.”
• “A child without guile still needs a witness; innocence is not evidence.”

Good to know

Cunning; sly intelligence. Close: cunning. Mix-up: guilt (blameworthiness). Charm/trick verb: beguile.

Near in meaning

cunning

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