as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
propagandists who use a kind of photographic subterfuge, superimposing one image on another to create a false "reality"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subterfuge
Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea.
—
Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Courts throughout the country have repeatedly seen through this subterfuge.
—Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Other times, the responsible parties engage in active subterfuge.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterfuge
Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Courts throughout the country have repeatedly seen through this subterfuge.
—Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Other times, the responsible parties engage in active subterfuge.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterfuge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subterfuge
Noun
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But these seductions or deceptions are canceled when the work confronts us with the photographic records of the performative procedure itself—and not only by making the photograph an integral component, the dialectical complement to the material sculptural production.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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He’s got some deception on the puck and does a good job holding onto it to wait for secondary options to open up, but slows the game down too much.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Press play below to learn more about Wells’ treachery, and to get a sneak peek at the fugitive interacting with her latest target.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
7 Apr. 2025
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Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong, but whose silky promises are rooted in treachery.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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All three threats target key parts of people’s digital lives: email attachments that lead to fake login pages, multi-factor authentication trickery and deceptive calendar invites.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
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Other than the trickery of time and subjectivity (and the occasional suitcase), there is little carried over from one story to the next.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Spotify, the industry’s behemoth, claims that its fraud detection programs caught Smith’s alleged chicanery.—
Kate Knibbs,
Wired News,
20 May 2025
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While shocking nonprofit chicanery has found itself in the media spotlight, the story of one West Texas charity deserves to be told and to inspire.—
Jack Fowler,
National Review,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The idea that a foundational piece of vulnerability tracking infrastructure could vanish overnight because of political gamesmanship?—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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With the civilian death toll rising steadily, the gamesmanship around talks had become background noise for many Ukrainians.—
Liubov Sholudko,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
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From encounters with mermaids, the devil and even Robin Hood to themes of superstition and skulduggery, these short tales are perfect escapism to dip in and out of during your summer vacation.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Two European companies operate the mines with much secrecy, and are responsible for almost the entire global market of high-purity quartz, according to industry experts.—
Mike Belleme,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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View on Reddit In his post, the OP emphasized that his stance wasn't about secrecy but about a sense of privacy and control over personal information in the early stages of dating.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
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But Waltz also advocated for further diplomatically isolating President Vladimir Putin — a position that was out of step with Trump, who has viewed the Russian leader, at moments, with admiration for his cunning in dealings with Trump’s predecessors.—
Matthew Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subterfuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subterfuge. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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