Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

slyly

/ˈslaɪli/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.46 in modern English

Syllables: sly-ly
IPA: /ˈslaɪli/

11

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

3

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a sly manner, cunningly.

Example Sentences

"VVhen ſhe vvas dreſt, therefore, dovvn ſhe vvent, reſolved to encounter all the Horrours of the Day, and a moſt diſagreeable one it proved; for Lady Bellaſton took every opportunity very civilly and slily to inſult her; […]"
"So when they were working that evening at the pumps, there was on this head no small gamesomeness slily going on among them, as they stood with their feet continually overflowed by the rippling clear water; […]"
"I lie there on the stretcher-bed and laugh slily, but say nothing; give vent to no opinion one way or the other."

Etymology

From Middle English sleighly; equivalent to sly + -ly.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: sleighly
Suffix: sly

Inflected Forms

more slyly (comparative) most slyly (superlative) slily (alternative)

Synonyms

craftily cunningly foxily knavishly trickily artfully

Rhymes With

highly riley miley wiley smiley o'reilly reilly wylie wily shyly wryly kiley

Questions

How do you pronounce slyly?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈslaɪli/.
What does slyly mean?: In a sly manner, cunningly.
Where does slyly come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce slyly

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “slyly”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈslaɪli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “slyly”.
Repeat and practice — Say “slyly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.