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Ingenuity vs Cunning - What's the difference?

ingenuity | cunning |

As nouns the difference between ingenuity and cunning

is that ingenuity is the ability to solve difficult problems, often in original, clever, and inventive ways while cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

As an adjective cunning is

sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

ingenuity

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The ability to solve difficult problems, often in original, clever, and inventive ways.
    • The pyramids demonstrate the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians.
    Poverty is the mother of ingenuity .
    Ingenuity is one of the characteristics of a beaver.
  • Ingenuousness; honesty, straightforwardness.
  • *, II.17:
    • And therefore I apply my selfe to ingenuitie , and ever to speake truth and what I think.

    Related terms

    * ingenious * ingenuous

    See also

    * industriousness

    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)