ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

1

: escapade, frolic

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 door

—Robert B. Parker

Synonyms

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

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

This motion is a ploy to delay producing documents and communications that UMG hopes to keep hidden and buried. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025

As a campaign tactic, the ploy worked, but Ford never managed to lower prices. —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025

Some sides generally seem unfazed by the ploy, with Liverpool yet to be beaten in the Premier League across the 29 times they have been turned around since 2016-17. —Thom Harris, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025

Experts say many of Trump's supporters see the dozens of felony convictions against the president in a separate case in New York as part of an establishment ploy to suppress their discontent. —Alana Wise, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from employ

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ploy

• counter-ploy
• marketing ploy

Rhymes for ploy

• boy
• choy
• coy
• croy
• foy
• hoi
• hoy
• joy
• loy
• oy
• soy
• toy

Kids Definition

ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

: a trick designed to embarrass or upset an opponent