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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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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Recent Examples of tricksy
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—
The Economist, 18 June 2020
The Economist, 18 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
Adjective
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As civil war looms, their lives intertwine through unlikely alliances and emotional entanglements, until war and betrayal force difficult choices.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
-
That would put the Federal Reserve in a difficult position.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Next, Negan saw Annie… and Joshua (whose smile was as mischievous as we’d been told).—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
15 June 2025
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View More On the cover, a young Chenier holds a 25-pound accordion the length of his torso, a big, mischievous smile on his face.—
Reya Hart,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
The vote took place against an increasingly violent backlash to the Trump administration's tough immigration policies.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
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In Mind For startups, achieving more with less can be tough.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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That’s 663 days between pitching appearances – and 663 days since fans caught a glimpse of his wicked four-seam fastball and splitter.—
Julia Andersen,
CNN Money,
16 June 2025
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To its credit, Seattle responded strongly after the break and pulled one back when Cristian Roldan’s header took a wicked deflection and snuck into the Botafogo net.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The observatory’s mirror design, sensitive camera and telescope speed are all the first of its kind, enabling Rubin to spot tiny, faint objects such as asteroids.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
23 June 2025
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With the hot and humid conditions, ozone levels will become unhealthy for sensitive groups (people with lung disease, young children, older adults, etc.).—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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But playful, electronic reimaginings of Grandma’s feel-good tunes and funny pop culture sound bites weren’t getting us anywhere past Havre de Grace.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
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Rowan is a funny, playful, and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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At the apotheosis of technical wizardry, Vacheron Constantin debuted the most complicated wristwatch in the world, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication-La Première.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
15 June 2025
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The movie centers on a New York City matchmaker caught between Mr. Perfect and her complicated ex. Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal lead the cast.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Attempts to stem the flow of materials that could aid Kim's nuclear program became even more problematic last year when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts enforcing sanctions on North Korea.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
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And if that decline becomes problematic, it will likely be tied to physical decline that makes an LTIR exit viable.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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