Knavishly

Adverb form of 'knavish,' describing behavior that is deceitful, untrustworthy, or characterized by dishonest or unscrupulous conduct. Often used to describe actions or individuals that engage in trickery or jocular deceit, resulting in a perception of dishonor or low moral standards. This term is typically applied in contexts where trickery is executed with a playful or mischievous intent, frequently painting the doer in a humorously untrustworthy light.

Knavishly meaning with examples

• In his knavishly clever scheme, Tim managed to convince his friends that he had won the lottery, leading them all on a wild goose chase through town, only to reveal later that he fabricated the entire story for a good laugh. It was a prank that, despite its deceit, fostered closer bonds among them as they recounted the ridiculousness of their night.
• The merchant knavishly sold defective goods to unsuspecting customers, cleverly evading responsibility by providing misleading information about the quality of his wares. Eventually, when many buyers realized they had been duped, they banded together to confront him, highlighting how his cunning tactics never truly paid off.
• While recruiting new members for their expedition, Colin knavishly exaggerated the dangers of the journey, suggesting that only the bravest would survive. His embellishments were intended to scare them into preparing more thoroughly, but what he thought was a clever ploy resulted in raised concerns and unexpected hesitations from the team about the journey ahead.
• Underneath his charming facade, the politician behaved knavishly as he promised voters everything they wanted to hear without any intention of following through. Critics argued that his tactics cleverly obscured the fact that his policies were shallow and lacked substance, suggesting a deeper commitment to deception than genuine representation.