" caginess "

1: exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters;

  * e.g., " ... most consumers should possess sufficient caginess to see through that scam "

•  Synonyms : 

•  acumen,

•  astuteness,

•  canniness,

•  clear-sightedness,

•  foxiness,

•  hardheadedness,

•  intelligence,

•  keenness,

•  knowingness,

•  sharpness,

•  shrewdness,

•  wit

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means;

  * e.g., " ... the lawyer's celebrated caginess makes her the first choice of the hopelessly guilty "

•  Synonyms : 

•  artfulness,

•  artifice,

•  canniness,

•  craft,

•  craftiness,

•  cunning,

•  cunningness,

•  deviousness,

•  foxiness,

•  guile,

•  guilefulness,

•  slickness,

•  slyness,

•  sneakiness,

•  subtleness,

•  subtlety,

•  wiliness

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means;

  * e.g., " ... a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district "

•  Synonyms : 

•  artful,

•  beguiling,

•  crafty,

•  cunning,

•  cute,

•  designing,

•  devious,

•  dodgy,

•  foxy,

•  guileful,

•  scheming,

•  shrewd,

•  slick,

•  sly,

•  subtle,

•  tricky,

•  wily

•  Antonyms : 

•  artless,

•  guileless,

•  ingenuous,

•  innocent,

•  undesigning

2: slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty;

  * e.g., " ... when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job "

•  Synonyms : 

•  disinclined,

•  dubious,

•  hesitant,

•  indisposed,

•  loath,

•  reluctant,

•  reticent

•  Antonyms : 

•  disposed,

•  inclined