Synonym Chooser

How does the noun trickery differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of trickery are deception, double-dealing, fraud, and subterfuge. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Where would deception be a reasonable alternative to trickery?

The meanings of deception and trickery largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is double-dealing a more appropriate choice than trickery?

The words double-dealing and trickery can be used in similar contexts, but double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

In what contexts can fraud take the place of trickery?

Although the words fraud and trickery have much in common, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace trickery?

While in some cases nearly identical to trickery, subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trickery Fiscal conservatives hated the massive spending and budget trickery. Philip Elliott, Time, 1 July 2025 The Dane retook the lead in the second half after some incredible Neymar trickery and held the lead to win the tournament. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 16 June 2025 Beckham was an elegant player, and his intelligence made up for his lack of pace and trickery. Patrick Smith, NBC news, 13 June 2025 In a recent sit-down with Haute Living, the legendary actor and martial artist shared his thoughts on the current state of Hollywood stunts, which, unlike in Chan’s heyday, is dominated by CGI and wirework trickery. Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trickery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trickery
Noun
  • Last summer, an exponentially growing audience of fans watched her fall head-over-heels for Brit Aaron Evans, only to be left heartbroken over his deception and sobbing to an entirely too appropriate Sabrina Carpenter song chosen by the show's editors.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 19 July 2025
  • Finding The Right Balance The cost of workplace deception is more than just a nasty surprise come employee feedback day.
    Dmitry Malin, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • An especially Jewish theme in the seventeenth century was not only the necessity but the dignity of subterfuge; to have lived in the shadows of another people’s empire had a nobility of its own, captured in this exquisite and ambivalent image.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 July 2025
  • People generally might not realize the subterfuge at play.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The six-parter, to debut July 14, follows six groups of friends, and six historical cases of murder and treachery among them.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
  • But amid the bloodbaths and treacheries, Westeros still penciled in time for a little romance — some more compelling than others (Jon and Ygritte > Jon and Daenerys).
    Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • One is inclined to ask how much chicanery, deceit, deception and outright lying one must absorb before ending one’s allegiance to that party.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2025
  • Despite the chicanery, this is a solid deal for a phone that isn’t wildly different from the Pixel 9.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one 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.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 22 July 2025
  • 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.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • What followed were weeks of negotiations and political gamesmanship, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) dared Democrats to oppose a test vote on the legislation.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2025
  • For Borchetta to sell her off to Braun was seen as gamesmanship, especially since both men openly strutted about the deal.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Congressional legerdemain can’t wave away that reality.
    Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Trickery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trickery. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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