ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

1

: escapade, frolic

2

a

: a tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent

b

: a devised or contrived move : stratagem

a ploy to get her to open the door

—Robert B. Parker

Synonyms

• ruse
• scheme
• trick

Examples of ploy in a Sentence

Her story about being sick is only a ploy to get you to give her money.

asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party

Recent Examples on the Web

The basic facts are that Tony bought a piece of land with a commitment from a grocery company intending to lease the property to build a supermarket; Kiritzis claimed that Meridian then actively deterred renters after realizing the value of the land and squeezed him dry in a ploy to buy it back. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025

Ballard convinced Navy officials to build in some time to search for the Titanic during the expedition to survey the submarines, a ploy that ultimately acted as a cover story for the Navy’s secret mission. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025

This was sort of portrayed as a ploy by the government and these companies to shut down trading and prevent the little guy from from making money. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025

But Hamas’s rapid acceptance of the deal may be as much a strategic ploy as a symptom of duress. —Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from employ

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ploy

• counter-ploy
• marketing ploy

Rhymes for ploy

• boy
• choy
• coy
• croy
• foy
• hoi
• hoy
• joy
• loy
• oy
• soy
• toy

Kids Definition

ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

: a trick designed to embarrass or upset an opponent