artful

/ˈɑrtfəl/

To be artful is to do something skillfully, especially in a cunning way. A con man must be artful.

To be an artist requires skill and talent: it's not easy to make art. Similarly, doing something in an artful way takes skill. A chess player is artful in escaping an opponent's attack. A politician is artful in appealing to different groups of people. This word also indicates that the skill shown is a little cunning or sneaky. In movies, villains are often artful, as they tell lies or hatch schemes. Often, artful is the opposite of straightforward.

Definitions of artful

1. adjective

   not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
   synonyms: disingenuous

   distorted, misrepresented, perverted, twisted

   having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

   insincere

   lacking sincerity
2. adjective

   marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft
   “the artful dodger”

   “an artful choice of metaphors”

   synonyms:

   adroit

   quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

   crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy, tricky, wily

   marked by skill in deception

   cute, precious

   obviously contrived to charm

   designing, scheming

   concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest

   deep

   exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy

   elusive

   skillful at eluding capture

   manipulative

   skillful in influencing or controlling others to your own advantage

   pawky

   cunning and sly

   antonyms:

   artless

   simple and natural; without cunning or deceit

   careless

   effortless and unstudied

   natural

   in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature