trickery

noun

trick·​ery ˈtri-k(ə-)rē 

: the practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat

Synonyms

• artifice
• chicane
• chicanery
• gamesmanship
• hanky-panky
• jiggery-pokery
• jugglery
• legerdemain
• skulduggery
• skullduggery
• subterfuge
• wile

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

Obfuscation and trickery are necessary and effective tactics. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025

Where Ricken sees benevolence and opportunity, Devon sees only wiles and trickery. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Johnson’s since emerged as one of the league’s brightest minds, a fearless play-caller with a deep well of Oscar-worthy trickery. —Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

Garcia is quick and adept at carrying the ball into dangerous areas, with his trickery opening space for others to exploit. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trickery

noun

trick·​ery ˈtrik-(ə-)rē 

plural trickeries

: the use of tricks to deceive or cheat