1
2
a
: a tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent
b
: a devised or contrived move : stratagem
a ploy to get her to open the doorRobert B. Parker

Examples of ploy in a Sentence

Her story about being sick is only a ploy to get you to give her money. asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party
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.
There were moments during the game where Guardiola’s tactical ploy worked perfectly, but City were slow to recognise their numerical advantages and punish Madrid in the way Barcelona have done in two separate encounters this season. Sam Lee, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025 Yes, but: All this tariff talk could just be a negotiating ploy, and there's also a chance Trump will spare the auto industry or its key trading partners. Joann Muller, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025 Critics have long accused her of using her status as a mother to avoid jail time and gain sympathy — but in her first interview from prison, Holmes insists to PEOPLE that parenthood wasn’t a ploy. Danielle Bacher, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025 This time, there’s a first-class version Social media reaction Núñez Vicente’s design has gone viral on more than one occasion — with some prospective travelers cracking jokes about passing wind, while others suggest the design is a cynical ploy to cram more passengers into the cabin. Francesca Street, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ploy 

Word History

Etymology

probably from employ

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ploy was in 1697

Dictionary Entries Near ploy

Cite this Entry

“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ploy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

ploy

noun
: a trick designed to embarrass or upset an opponent

More from Merriam-Webster on ploy

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