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
Plenty of fans hopped into the comments, stunned at Set going with Sabrina as his pick, while others figured this could be a publicity ploy for an upcoming collaboration between the pair.
—
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 June 2025
Trump officials have been privately making clear to counterparts that Trump’s threat to significantly escalate an already sweeping US sanctions regime on Russia should be taken seriously and is not a negotiating ploy, the officials said.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Republicans must acknowledge the full scope of their legislation’s impact, rather than simply labeling concerns as political ploys.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
In the past two years Marvel has resorted to a number of ploys to tempt them back into movie theaters whilst DC has rebooted its cinematic universe entirely after hiring Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 June 2025
Trump officials have been privately making clear to counterparts that Trump’s threat to significantly escalate an already sweeping US sanctions regime on Russia should be taken seriously and is not a negotiating ploy, the officials said.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Republicans must acknowledge the full scope of their legislation’s impact, rather than simply labeling concerns as political ploys.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
In the past two years Marvel has resorted to a number of ploys to tempt them back into movie theaters whilst DC has rebooted its cinematic universe entirely after hiring Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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However, the key to the ruse is that the figures in the left column are fabrications.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
This is one of those movies where a simple plan with a simple objective gets complicated as the characters go to elaborate lengths to pull off a ruse.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
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Andrew Canepa, 33, died in a shooting spree Monday, July 28, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, along with two others, Sparks police said in a news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
30 July 2025
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O'Brien and Kolakowski, who are brothers-in-law, were visiting the Walmart to pick up supplies for a family vacation when the stabbing spree broke out.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Alaska Airlines is updating its Boeing 787s with a new paint scheme and plans to introduce new business class cabins.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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After lying about nearly all of his academic and professional qualifications to get elected to Congress in 2022, Santos was charged with crimes including a scheme to steal financial information from campaign contributors, then repeatedly charging those accounts without permission.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Clean sheets appeared on the bed as if by magic, a trick many high-end hotels have forgotten.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The brand recommends laying the topper flat to expand for several hours after removing it from the packaging, but shoppers note that fluffing it in the dryer before use also does the trick.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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