slyly

Slyly is an adverb describing an action performed in a sly, cunning, or stealthy manner. It connotes a degree of craftiness or mischief and is often used to describe subtle, guarded, or conspiratorial behavior rather than open honesty or bluntness. The word commonly signals a calculated, sometimes mischievous, approach rather than a straightforward or direct one.

The term is formed from the adjective sly by adding the suffix -ly, yielding an adverb. It is a standard, though somewhat formal or literary, construction in English. Slyly has been part of the language for centuries and appears in both classic and contemporary prose, poetry, and dialogue.

Usage notes: In modern prose, slyly tends to describe demeanor or movement that is not straightforward, such as a glance or smile that implies hidden knowledge or intention. Examples include sentences like "He glanced slyly at the exit" or "She smiled slyly, as if sharing a private joke." It is less common in everyday colloquial speech than more neutral adverbs such as quietly or secretly, but remains acceptable in narrative and descriptive writing. Slyly is related to other adverbs such as craftily and stealthily, though each carries its own subtle nuance.

See also: sly, slyness, craftiness, stealth, deception.

Examples: He slid the letter open, slyly thwarting suspicion. The fox watched slyly from behind the hedge.