Synonyms of trickery

trickery

noun

ˈtri-k(ə-)rē 

as in deception

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end

Delia resorted to trickery—even loading up the fishing equipment—to induce her dog into the car for his vet appointment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deception
• subterfuge
• treachery
• skullduggery
• deceptiveness
• chicanery
• cunning
• jugglery
• gamesmanship
• skulduggery
• legerdemain
• artfulness
• deceit
• stealth
• secrecy
• scheming
• jiggery-pokery
• chicane
• wile
• artifice
• hanky-panky
• plotting
• deceitfulness
• shrewdness
• duplicity
• deviousness
• sneakiness
• underhandedness
• guile
• slyness
• hypocrisy
• shiftiness
• fakery
• craftiness
• dishonesty
• dissimulation
• insincerity
• double-dealing
• slipperiness
• design
• slickness
• quackery
• crookedness
• wiliness
• imposture
• humbuggery
• oiliness
• shadiness
• dupery
• crookery
• cageyness
• caginess
• sharpness
• dirty tricks
• dirty pool
• foxiness
• guilefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincerity
• artlessness
• ingenuousness
• guilelessness
• forthrightness
• directness
• openness
• candor
• plainness
• candidness
• plainspokenness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun trickery differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of trickery are deception, double-dealing, fraud, and subterfuge. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Where would deception be a reasonable alternative to trickery?

The meanings of deception and trickery largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is double-dealing a more appropriate choice than trickery?

The words double-dealing and trickery can be used in similar contexts, but double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

In what contexts can fraud take the place of trickery?

Although the words fraud and trickery have much in common, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace trickery?

While in some cases nearly identical to trickery, subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trickery

Where Ricken sees benevolence and opportunity, Devon sees only wiles and trickery. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Johnson’s since emerged as one of the league’s brightest minds, a fearless play-caller with a deep well of Oscar-worthy trickery. —Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

Garcia is quick and adept at carrying the ball into dangerous areas, with his trickery opening space for others to exploit. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

In the human realm, at least, equating cuckoldry solely with trickery and the cuckolded as weak and foolish is inaccurate. —Brooke Scelza, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2024