Guile

ART

Cunning might be its method but this three-letter word defines skillful creation.

"Guile" here hints at cleverness or trickery, which is often associated with the word "art"—not just as in paintings, but in the sense of cunning or skillful deception. Think of phrases like "the art of persuasion" or "mastering the art of deception," where "art" implies a crafty, strategic approach. The clue plays on the double meaning of "art," steering you away from its creative definition toward its shrewder side.