Cunning individuals are adept at preparing things to obtain what they want, especially through fooling other people or objects that have been carefully designed for a specific purpose: a cunning plan or ruse. He's a highly astute individual. Related Words and Phrases in SMART Vocabulary Sly and cunning. A sly person is one who acts with deceitfulness or treachery. He's a crafty person. A cunning person is one who uses intelligence to achieve goals. He's a devious person. Synonyms Cunningness, shrewdness, sagacity, intellect, judgment, ability to judge situations, perceive risks, take advantage of opportunities, engage in strategic planning — all these words describe someone who is clever. Judgment refers to the mental process by which we decide what course of action to take in a particular situation. It involves considering various options and making a choice based on how we think things will likely play out. Sensitivity to circumstances implies a measure of prudence; awareness of what others think of us gives rise to self-control. These are only some of the many ways in which we use our judgment every day. Synonyms Judgement, perception, insight, wisdom -- all these words refer to the quality of being wise. Perception means awareness of what is going on around us, the ability to understand something through its appearance. It is the power of the mind to comprehend ideas or facts about anything. Insight is the understanding that comes from experience; wisdom is the knowledge that comes from this insight.