• Today's Word

Guile

🔊 Listen to the word Guile

GYL

Definition

(noun) Sly or cunning intelligence; crafty deceptiveness used to achieve one’s aims.

Example

The negotiator used guile rather than threats to secure a favorable agreement.

Word Origin

Middle English: from Old French, probably from a Germanic source related to “wile.”

Fun Fact

Guile distinguishes itself from simple lying by emphasizing cleverness and strategy over crude deception. Odysseus exemplified guile in Greek mythology, using the Trojan Horse and countless clever schemes rather than brute strength. The phrase “without guile” appears in biblical contexts praising honest simplicity. Medieval bestiaries depicted foxes as animals of guile, reinforcing cultural associations between cunning and craftiness. Modern poker players demonstrate guile through strategic deception and psychological manipulation. Unlike “deceit,” which sounds purely negative, guile can carry grudging admiration for intellectual cunning. It’s the mental equivalent of martial arts—turning opponents’ expectations against them through superior strategy rather than direct confrontation, making guile simultaneously criticized and celebrated depending on whose side you’re on.