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Cunning vs Dangerous - What's the difference?

cunning | dangerous |

As adjectives the difference between cunning and dangerous

is that cunning is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour while dangerous is full of danger.

As a noun cunning

is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

cunning

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) cunning, kunning, konnyng, alteration of earlier (etyl) cunninde, kunnende, cunnand, from (etyl) cunnende, present participle of . More at (l), (l).

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
  • * South
    • They are resolved to be cunning ; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
  • (obsolete) Skillful, artful.
  • * Bible, Genesis xxv. 27
    • Esau was a cunning hunter.
  • * Bible, Exodus xxxviii. 23
    • a cunning workman
  • * Shakespeare
    • ''Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white / Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
  • (obsolete) Wrought with, or exibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
    • cunning work
  • * Spenser
    • Over them Arachne high did lift / Her cunning web.
  • (US, colloquial, rare) Cute, appealing.
    • a cunning little boy
    (Bartlett)
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) cunning, kunnyng, partially from (etyl) *.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
  • Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
  • * 2005 , .
    • indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
  • Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit.
  • The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
  • The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
    • the cunning of the fox or hare
    Synonyms
    * (l) * (l) * (l)

    dangerous

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Full of danger.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
  • Causing danger; ready to do harm or injury.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:If they incline to think you dangerous / To less than gods
  • In a condition of danger, as from illness; threatened with death.
    • Forby. Bartlett.
  • (lb) Hard to suit; difficult to please.
  • *(Geoffrey Chaucer) (c.1343-1400)
  • *:My wages ben full strait, and eke full small; / My lord to me is hard and dangerous .
  • (lb) Reserved; not affable.
  • *(Geoffrey Chaucer) (c.1343-1400)
  • *:Of his speech dangerous

    • Synonyms

    (full of danger) * hazardous * perilous * risky * unsafe * See also

    Antonyms

    * (full of danger) safe

    Related terms

    * danger * dangerously

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words