1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
it's a bit tricksy to have a candid conversation with the company president without appearing to be either presumptuous or obsequious
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a tricksy provocateur who will make the most outrageous statements just to get a reaction
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tricksy
The structure is a bit tricksier, flipping between the present — which finds our two inevitable lovers estranged and in their early thirties — and a staggered series of flashbacks catching up to it.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like tapping into that mischievous kid in me.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
-
There on the screen, staring back at me, are two gigantic black eyes and a mischievous smile stitched on a massive, crocheted head — features of the mysterious, endlessly cheeky mask that has become Chuyin’s signature.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Known for creating wicked political satires like Veep and The Thick of It, Iannucci is currently competing on Taskmaster.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
Farrell was impressed by Ayala, who displayed a wicked slider and changed speeds.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
But in all these cases, unopened soda is shelf-stable and not sensitive to refrigeration cycles.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
Raw vegetables may preserve nutrients that are sensitive to heat, while cooked vegetables can make others easier to absorb.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lush grounds, multiple saltwater swimming pools, a serene spa, wonderful on-property dining, and spacious guestrooms and suites make this an all-around great pick for travelers seeking a resort-style hotel that blends playful design with Western comfort and plenty of amenities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
-
While this can be a playful alternative to braids, two-strand twists can be easy and simple to wear, according to Kerry Washington.—
Larry Stansbury,
InStyle,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s a lot of complicated, and at times conflicting, objectives to try to balance.—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
So, the story is getting more complicated because more people are telling it, but also society is dealing with new ideas around environmentalism and second-wave feminism.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Claire’s elective death therefore remains a problematic choice for some viewers, an act of vainglorious selfishness from a woman who was never terribly nice to begin with.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
-
The problematic types are the social wasps, who live together in a colony with a queen.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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