trickster

noun

trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər 

: one who tricks: such as

a

: a dishonest person who defrauds others by trickery

b

: a person (such as a stage magician) skilled in the use of tricks and illusion

c

: a cunning or deceptive character appearing in various forms in the folklore of many cultures

Synonyms

• bilk
• bilker
• cheat
• cheater
• chiseler
• chiseller
• confidence man
• cozener
• defrauder
• dodger
• fakir
• finagler
• fraudster [chiefly British]
• hoaxer
• scammer
• scamster
• shark
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy
• skinner
• swindler
• tricker

Examples of trickster in a Sentence

a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings

a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear

Recent Examples on the Web

The follow-up novel, Anansi Boys, which centers around the sons of the titular African trickster spirit, has been in development by Amazon Prime Video. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Loki: Recognizable because of Marvel, Loki was a Norse trickster god. —Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024

Philip Howze, a gifted satirical trickster making his Off Broadway debut, sets the scene with a Black director (Julian Robertson) prowling around a bare stage, climbing up and down ladders, trying desperately to reach high enough to pull down the curtain. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 July 2024

Toby: Toby is a fun-loving, sly trickster in Twelfth Night. Cassius: Cassius may not be the hero of Julius Caesar, but the name itself is a great one. —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing trickster

• confidence trickster

Kids Definition

trickster

noun

trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər 

: one who tricks: as

a

: a dishonest person who cheats others by trickery

b

: magician sense 2