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Canny vs Acumen - What's the difference?

canny | acumen |

As an adjective canny

is careful, prudent, cautious.

As a noun acumen is

quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination.

canny

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Careful, prudent, cautious.
    • (Ramsay)
  • Knowing, shrewd, astute.
    • (Sir Walter Scott)
  • Frugal, thrifty.
  • (Scotland, Northumbria) Pleasant, fair.
    • She's a canny lass hor like!
  • * 1783 , (Robert Burns), "Green Grow the Rashes O", Songs and Ballads
    • But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
    My arms about my dearie O;
    An' warl'y cares, an' warl'y men,
    Mae a' gae tapsalteerie O!
  • (Northumbria) Very or much.
    • That's a canny big horse, man!

    Derived terms

    * cannily * canniness

    Related terms

    * uncanny (Note: In common modern usage, "canny" and "uncanny" are no longer antonyms.)

    References

    * * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    acumen

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.
  • *
    • No, no, my dear Watson! With all respect for your natural acumen , I do not think that you are quite a match for the worthy doctor.
  • * 1991 ,
    • Hannibal Lecter: Why do you think he removes their skins, Agent Starling? Enthrall me with your acumen .

    Synonyms

    * sharpness, penetration, keenness, shrewdness, acuteness, acuity, wit, foxiness, intelligence, canniness