Word: Guileful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: The word "guileful" describes someone who is skilled at deceiving others. A guileful person is clever and uses trickery or cunning to achieve their goals, often in a sly or sneaky way.
You can use "guileful" to describe people, actions, or strategies that involve deception or cleverness that is not straightforward. It often has a negative connotation, suggesting that the person is untrustworthy.
In literature or more sophisticated contexts, "guileful" can describe complex characters or intricate plots that involve manipulation and cunning strategies. For example, in a political drama, a guileful politician might use underhanded tactics to gain power.
Guile (noun): The ability to deceive or trick someone; cleverness in achieving something.
Guilelessly (adverb): In a way that is innocent and without deceit.
While "guileful" primarily refers to deception, it can also imply being shrewd or astute. However, it typically leans more towards the negative aspect of cleverness associated with trickery.
There are no direct idioms that use "guileful," but you might encounter phrases that convey similar meanings, like: - "Pulling the wool over someone's eyes": This means to deceive someone.
While there aren't specific phrasal verbs for "guileful," you can use phrases like: - "Lead someone astray": This means to mislead or deceive someone, which reflects a guileful action.