ˈärtfəl, ˈȧt- adjective
Etymology: art (II) + -ful
1.
a. : performed with, characterized by, or exhibiting art or skill
so artful is the choice of detail that the reader is given the illusion of having lived through every painful minute of the lengthy trial — Howard Haycraft
b. : produced by art : artificial
the wording a shade too clever, the vowel-patterns too artful — Times Literary Supplement
c.
(1) : ingeniously designed
artful vases and pitchers — N.Y.Times
(2) : craftily deceptive
she hit upon an artful conjecture — George Meredith
2.
a. : using art or skill : dexterous , skillful
something more than the mere artful prose stylist he is so often considered — David Daiches
b. : adroit in taking advantage usually unfairly : crafty , deceitful
many an artful shipmaster who thought the barristers were fools … has seen his nautical evidence torn to shreds by a lawyer who had never been to sea — N.Y.Herald Tribune
Synonyms: see sly