1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party
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2
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun
wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family
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Recent Examples of ploy
As series showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed to Deadline in December, the fight for Virgin River’s clinic will be a major storyline in Season 7, with the investigation into Doc’s actions while saving a patient as a ploy for the clinic to be taken over by a large hospital network.
—
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Trump's aspirations for the island could be a ploy to push policy changes such as NATO members beefing up their military spending following his distancing from the alliance.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
But: Was this all a ploy to gin up interest in a new album Tory is allegedly releasing this Friday, March 7?
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025
The ploy broke a decades-long taboo in German politics.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Trump's aspirations for the island could be a ploy to push policy changes such as NATO members beefing up their military spending following his distancing from the alliance.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
But: Was this all a ploy to gin up interest in a new album Tory is allegedly releasing this Friday, March 7?
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025
The ploy broke a decades-long taboo in German politics.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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Not least because the ruse allows for a Putin or two to die while another survives without toppling the edifice built by the original one.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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The defendants never believed the ruse and within hours were sending threatening messages to Rendon, according to prosecutors.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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New England Patriots The Patriots continued their free-agent spending spree Tuesday night, adding star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a receiving group that needed a No. 1.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Starting around 2011 Endeavor went on a buying spree acquiring everything from the Professional Bull Riders to the Frieze Art Fair.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Kelly’s portrayal contradicts other characterizations of Drue, including those made in prior legal proceedings, which depicted him as the architect of schemes to conceal assets and manipulate the legal system.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Other parts of the U.K.’s immigration system have been criticized as well, including the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme, which NGOs say leaves people open to various forms of exploitation, debt bondage and forced labor.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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What Dangerous or Tricky People Might Do Ruda says kids should recognize common tricks that dangerous or tricky person might use to catch them off guard.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
31 Mar. 2025
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If not, there will be a new game released tomorrow with another chance to guess the categories, and Newsweek will be back with more tips and tricks to help you along!—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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