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

There seems to be an active ploy to hit the left wing. —Mark Carey, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

Meanwhile, President Ross is also taking pills for a mysterious condition: a ploy to inundate him with gamma radiation and transform him into the Red Hulk. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025

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

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