trickery

noun

trick·​ery ˈtri-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce trickery (audio)
: the practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat
Choose the Right Synonym for trickery

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

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

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Examples of trickery in a Sentence

He resorted to trickery to get what he wanted. Delia resorted to trickery—even loading up the fishing equipment—to induce her dog into the car for his vet appointment.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Calling it his novel is a bit of authorial trickery: Griffin Hurt doesn’t exist. Stuart Miller, Orange County Register, 16 Jan. 2025 Kari Ferrell’s memoir is a zippy, intimate account of low-level trickery before the era of scams fully erupted. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025 The Bears got a 94-yard punt return from Josh Blackwell for their first touchdown thanks to a bit of trickery. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 Some trickery from Williams and an explosive run from receiver DJ Moore put Chicago right at the goal line, with running back D’Andre Swift bursting through to continue the scoring frenzy. Sam Joseph, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trickery 

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trickery was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near trickery

Cite this Entry

“Trickery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trickery. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

trickery

noun
trick·​ery ˈtrik-(ə-)rē How to pronounce trickery (audio)
plural trickeries
: the use of tricks to deceive or cheat

More from Merriam-Webster on trickery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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