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Synonym Chooser

How is the word tricky distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of tricky are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When can artful be used instead of tricky?

While the synonyms artful and tricky are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When is it sensible to use crafty instead of tricky?

While in some cases nearly identical to tricky, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When might cunning be a better fit than tricky?

The words cunning and tricky can be used in similar contexts, but cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for tricky?

The synonyms foxy and tricky are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than tricky?

In some situations, the words slick and tricky are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When could sly be used to replace tricky?

The words sly and tricky are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would wily be a reasonable alternative to tricky?

The meanings of wily and tricky largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tricky The timeline can be tricky at first, especially as audiences train themselves to distinguish between Frank and Vito. Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025 The chassis is designed to deliver balance, something that is tricky for electric vehicle manufacturers as large, heavy battery packs weigh models down. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 That said, these are trickier to spot than other annual showers, as the meteors are generally quite faint and cannot compete with light pollution. Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025 How parents and guardians can help Intervening in a teen’s relationship can be tricky, with adolescents tending to resist oversight from parents or caregivers. Julianna Bragg, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tricky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricky
Adjective
  • As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination.
    Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Every actor is absolutely perfect in this super-efficient romp, from Cleese’s perfect straight man amidst the chaos, to Curtis’ seductive, cunning femme fatale, to Palin’s stammering, animal-loving hitman whose assassination attempts go disastrously wrong.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Their infatuations are challenged by a cunning philosopher who persuades the bros to pretend they’ve been suddenly drafted and to return later in disguise to woo each other’s fiancée.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The opening weekend miss for what was a very buzzy Sundance title back in 2023 about a troubled but ambitious bodybuilder follows controversy around its star and comes at a tough time for indie films in general.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025
  • As long as Flagg is on the floor, the Blue Devils will be a tough out.
    Tobias Bass, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His rapping has a frail, slithering quality; his vocal tone morphs between cute squeakiness and ragged rottweiler growls.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • This Mainstays set accomplishes both goals and is so cute for summer.
    Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • However, people with sensitive skin may experience mild skin irritation, which is often more prevalent with higher percentages of urea.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Her role focused on safeguarding the CFPB's sensitive data, including transaction records from credit reporting agencies, complaints filed by citizens, and information from Big Tech companies under investigation.
    Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Look closely, and like Castillo’s U.S. passport, the CARICOM passport holds subtle clues.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The Pre Wash Scalp Oil is also infused with amber, cashmere musk, lemon and mandarin leaving a subtle fragrance that’s equal parts cozy and sparkling.
    Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • As the academic writing landscape evolves, EssayPro’s limitations have become increasingly problematic for students needing dependable assistance.
    Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
  • If that involves breaking the law, then that becomes problematic.
    Gary Phelan, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Stricter consumer protection laws worldwide mean businesses face mounting scrutiny and potential legal repercussions for deceptive claims.
    Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Issues concerning the scheme arise when the business utilizing it sells the data of consumers without proper consent or for deceptive purposes, as this could violate laws, the company said.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tricky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricky. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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