canny

Definition of canny

shrewd and cautious

Synonyms for canny

• astute
• discerning
• acute

canny in a Sentence

1. Her canny investments made her a millionaire.

Why canny Matters for GRE & SAT

"canny" is a adjective that means "shrewd and cautious" closely related to words like "astute", "discerning", "acute". As a word starting with C, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "canny" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "canny" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (adjective). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "canny" into long-term memory.

How to Remember canny

One effective way to remember "canny" (adjective) is to group it with similar words you already know: "astute" and "discerning" and "acute". When you encounter "canny" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "shrewd and cautious".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "canny" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with C

• cacophonous — extremely noisy; grating
• cajole — persuade through flattery or gentle urging
• callous — emotionally unfeeling or insensitive
• callow — young and inexperienced; immature
• calumny — slander and defamation
• candid — Truthful and straightforward; frank
• candid — honest; without deception
• candor — The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness
• canonize — treat like a god; deeply venerate
• capable — Having the ability or qualities necessary to do something