trickster

trick·ster

noun \ˈtrik-stər\

Definition of TRICKSTER

: one who tricks: as

a : a dishonest person who defrauds others by trickery

b : a person (as a stage magician) skilled in the use of tricks and illusion

c : a cunning or deceptive character appearing in various forms in the folklore of many cultures

Examples of TRICKSTER

1. <a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings>
2. <a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear>

First Known Use of TRICKSTER

1711

Related to TRICKSTER

Synonyms

bilk, bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler (or chiseller), confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir, finagler, fraudster [chiefly British], hoaxer, scammer, scamster, shark, sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), skinner, swindler, tricker

Related Words

double-crosser, double-dealer; bluffer, charlatan, fake, faker, humbug, impostor (or imposter), mountebank, phony (also phoney), pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham; adventurer, fox, gamesman, knave, prankster, rascal, rogue; fast-talker, slick, slicker, slickster, slyboots, smoothy (or smoothie), wheeler-dealer; plotter, schemer, sneak, sneaker; blackleg, cardsharp (or cardsharper)