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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ploy
State media reporting that Rubio might attend could be a misinformation ploy amid stalled peace negotiations for a ceasefire in the war Putin started.
—
Brendan Cole
yevgeny Kuklychev, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
They were found guilty of stealing over one million dollars in jewelry, cars, and more in what was called an elaborate ploy.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Early in 2008, when Clinton briefly welled up in a coffee shop after a bruising loss in the Iowa caucus, the moment was interpreted as being a melodramatic scandal fit for TMZ and a cynical ploy for attention that eventually won her New Hampshire.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
One of Gavin Newsom’s political ploys is to depict political rivals as bullies and himself as someone who stands up to them.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Brendan Cole
yevgeny Kuklychev, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
They were found guilty of stealing over one million dollars in jewelry, cars, and more in what was called an elaborate ploy.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Early in 2008, when Clinton briefly welled up in a coffee shop after a bruising loss in the Iowa caucus, the moment was interpreted as being a melodramatic scandal fit for TMZ and a cynical ploy for attention that eventually won her New Hampshire.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
One of Gavin Newsom’s political ploys is to depict political rivals as bullies and himself as someone who stands up to them.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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The police investigation that followed included surveillance and a ruse where investigators answered local prostitution ads and were directed to the home.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
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But this ruse is like the broader trans movement itself, which obliges you to deny the evidence dangling before your own eyes.—
The Editors,
National Review,
4 June 2025
Noun
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That’s after the European Central Bank confirmed the yellow metal had overtaken the euro on the back of feverish buying sprees that have pushed its price to record highs over the last 12 months.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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So too did Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Caroline Fraser, just 7 years old and mere miles away during Bundy’s 1974 summer murder spree.—
Time,
Time,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Several officers who either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a jury for their role in the corruption scheme had their felony convictions tossed out in favor of misdemeanors amid allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
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While Google displays only the scheme and host name of the site the ad links to (for instance, https://www.microsoft.com), the ad appends parameters to the path to the right of that address.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2025
Noun
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This isn't the first time the former Sports Illustrated model has shared parenting tips and tricks.—
Clare Fisher,
People.com,
23 June 2025
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The magic trick is that Sunny gradually learned how to distinguish its POV from the characters’, showing empathy not only for the Gang’s victims, but also the Gang itself.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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