as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
Delia resorted to trickery—even loading up the fishing equipment—to induce her dog into the car for his vet appointment
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Recent Examples of trickery
But Scott has the power of love on his side (though the power of self-respect would serve him better) and, like many an underdog, relies more on clever trickery than physical prowess to win most of the battles.
—
Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The ability to render the real world using charcoal is utter trickery.
—Emily Wilson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
But just try not to be tickled by even the simplest of the show’s trickery, like when a book fallen from a school locker flies right back in.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025
This mental trickery accompanies the broader truth that most homeowners work hard for their properties and take pride in their neighborhoods and schools, all of which together represent status and asset value in the world.
—Jeff Hobbs, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickery
Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The ability to render the real world using charcoal is utter trickery.
—Emily Wilson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
But just try not to be tickled by even the simplest of the show’s trickery, like when a book fallen from a school locker flies right back in.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025
This mental trickery accompanies the broader truth that most homeowners work hard for their properties and take pride in their neighborhoods and schools, all of which together represent status and asset value in the world.
—Jeff Hobbs, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trickery
Noun
-
But these seductions or deceptions are canceled when the work confronts us with the photographic records of the performative procedure itself—and not only by making the photograph an integral component, the dialectical complement to the material sculptural production.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
-
He’s got some deception on the puck and does a good job holding onto it to wait for secondary options to open up, but slows the game down too much.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
Remember when Russia was that pesky geopolitical force who’s own constant secrecy and subterfuge brought about the downfall of its imperial ambitions?—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
8 Mar. 2025
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But this subterfuge is perhaps the very substance of the paintings.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Press play below to learn more about Wells’ treachery, and to get a sneak peek at the fugitive interacting with her latest target.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong, but whose silky promises are rooted in treachery.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Spotify, the industry’s behemoth, claims that its fraud detection programs caught Smith’s alleged chicanery.—
Kate Knibbs,
Wired News,
20 May 2025
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While shocking nonprofit chicanery has found itself in the media spotlight, the story of one West Texas charity deserves to be told and to inspire.—
Jack Fowler,
National Review,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Neither his fearsome resolve nor his supreme cunning—which had enabled him to vanquish his rivals and spiritually crush his inner circle—was in evidence in 1941.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2017
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The idea that a foundational piece of vulnerability tracking infrastructure could vanish overnight because of political gamesmanship?—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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With the civilian death toll rising steadily, the gamesmanship around talks had become background noise for many Ukrainians.—
Liubov Sholudko,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
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From encounters with mermaids, the devil and even Robin Hood to themes of superstition and skulduggery, these short tales are perfect escapism to dip in and out of during your summer vacation.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Between April 1 and 7, the fair gathered 60 brands at the Palexpo exhibition center that broke new records, showcased world premieres and offered an ever-growing array of technical and artistic legerdemain in their latest high-end timepieces.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
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Congressional legerdemain can’t wave away that reality.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
4 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Trickery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trickery. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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