1
as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings
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2
as in magician
one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment
a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trickster
There’s also a playful side threaded through the record, embodied in the reappearance of his alter ego, Billy Bob Bo Bob — a kind of fantastical trickster figure he’s inhabited before.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Aug. 2025
In addition to taste testing at the wine and beer tents, see live performances by musical artists, polka dancers and BMX tricksters.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Jack Nicholson’s McMurphy, a swaggering trickster figure, clashes with the institution’s quiet tyrant, Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), in a battle not just of wills, but of worldviews: chaos versus order, freedom versus conformity.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025
Theo was funny, cool, affable, confident around adults, often charmingly sneaky, a bit of a trickster.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickster
Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Aug. 2025
In addition to taste testing at the wine and beer tents, see live performances by musical artists, polka dancers and BMX tricksters.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Jack Nicholson’s McMurphy, a swaggering trickster figure, clashes with the institution’s quiet tyrant, Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), in a battle not just of wills, but of worldviews: chaos versus order, freedom versus conformity.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025
Theo was funny, cool, affable, confident around adults, often charmingly sneaky, a bit of a trickster.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trickster
Noun
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The Shortcut — and Its Risks For aspiring creators, reality TV feels like a cheat code.—
Amanda Marcovitch,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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New research is shedding light on the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar gray market for video game cheats.—
Lily Hay Newman,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Back on the balcony, the magician was doing his best to charm basketball players Devin Booker and Jordan Clarkson with card tricks.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Happel and his team plan to host a diverse range of local and national acts, from punk and metal to rock en español and touring legends, as well as magicians, stand-ups, burlesque dancers, neo-circus acts and more.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These changes will also usher in a shift in the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles customs and tariff enforcement, with both the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) laser focused on duty dodgers.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 July 2025
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Blue Jays Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak Read more Los angeles dodgers Sandy Alcántara Trade?—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Noun
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Even back on board, the show continues after dark, with pelicans and reef sharks drawn to the yacht’s lights and sea lions sometimes clambering onto the aft deck.—
Rachel Ingram,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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These included Tralalero Tralala, a three-legged shark with blue Nikes; Tung Tung Tung Sahur, an anthropomorphic wood plank; and Ballerina Cappuccina, a cup of golden-brown coffee in a pink bodice.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trickster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trickster. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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