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wily

[wahy-lee] / ˈwaɪ li /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Rangers head coach has been put out of the League Cup, Scottish Cup and now condemned to third place in the Scottish Premiership by his wily old Celtic counterpart Martin O'Neill.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Here Hyungjin Son, the bumpkin-ish Bardolph in “Falstaff,” portrayed the Count, while Colclough was the wily Figaro.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Lyndon B. Johnson, the party’s wily leader, used it to effectively kill business-friendly amendments to a federal labor law that the GOP had been pushing.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

Starmer opted for a political appointee instead, hoping that Mandelson, a wily political operator who also ran a lobbying firm, would be better suited to manage the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

How I recognized the wily grin on Fat Frankie’s face, at the moment when he knew he’d hustled me but good.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz




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