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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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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Palace’s recruitment strategy depends on selling players, however difficult such deals are to stomach.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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The thing about this Philadelphia Phillies team that makes doing business difficult is that nearly every player is beloved by the fan base.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But the palm-sized toy bears holds the same mischievous grin and soft fur that made the original go mind-bogglingly viral.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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His joyful, mischievous stage presence is enough reason to go.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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Unlike Trump, they aren’t charmed by the Kremlin’s tough guy.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sherlock fanatics may recall that Cumberbatch’s interpretation of Baker Street’s greatest sleuth was blessed with hints of wicked humor sublimated under those manic, elementary deductions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
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The therapist reacts in horror, but judging by the wicked smiles on their faces, this kind of dry, mutually deprecating humor still turns them on.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Short-term health risks, especially for sensitive populations, can include eyes, throat and nose irritation, asthma attacks, coughing and shortness of breath.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Aug. 2025
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There’s another potential dynamic at play, too: Will humans be more willing to divulge more sensitive details to a machine than another human?—
Gina Chua,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Regular fit tees feature playful graphics such as a color-by-number Buddy Lee—Lee’s beloved mascot—or a Crayola 64 count box highlighting the eight limited edition colors.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Some say the video represents a rising crime problem in the city, but crime statistics paint a more complicated picture.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
14 Aug. 2025
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The Code Talkers developed an extensive and complicated code based on their own language, which substituted key military and geographical terms for related images.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This disconnect suggests that while devices can worsen mental health issues, just removing them doesn't appear to solve more fundamental matters of anxiety, depression or social isolation that drive problematic phone use in the first place.—
Angelica Mari,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Still, this is evanescent stuff, hardly weighty enough to get mad about with respect to the aforementioned problematic areas.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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