Cunning refers to being clever, skillful, and often sly in achieving a goal. It implies a degree of deception or trickery, but not necessarily malicious intent.
Wile refers to a trick, stratagem, or deceptive scheme. It emphasizes the act of deception itself, rather than the skill or cleverness behind it.
Therefore, while someone who is cunning might use wiles to achieve their goals, being cunning does not automatically mean someone uses wiles.
Here's an example:
* Cunning: A cunning salesperson might use flattery and persuasion to convince a customer to buy a product.
* Wile: A con artist might use a clever trick to steal someone's money.
In this example, both the salesperson and the con artist are using their skills to achieve a goal. However, the salesperson is using their cunning, while the con artist is using a specific wile.
So, while cunning can be associated with using wiles, it's not always the case. It's important to understand the nuances of each word to use them correctly.