1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party
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2
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun
wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family
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Recent Examples of ploy
Lyman Ward played Ferris' dad, whose busy work schedule kept him conveniently distracted from his teenage son's ploys.
—
Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Some suggest that this bill of goods (brought to you by the same spin masters who wanted to develop our public parks) is a ploy to increase voter turnout in November.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2026
What starts out as a ploy to get the attention of Hannah’s crush Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston) turns into reel feelings between the singer songwriter and the hockey athlete.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Restrain your anger and disappointment over FIFA’s corporate greed and unabashed ploy to capitalize on this every-four-year money grab.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Some suggest that this bill of goods (brought to you by the same spin masters who wanted to develop our public parks) is a ploy to increase voter turnout in November.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2026
What starts out as a ploy to get the attention of Hannah’s crush Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston) turns into reel feelings between the singer songwriter and the hockey athlete.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Restrain your anger and disappointment over FIFA’s corporate greed and unabashed ploy to capitalize on this every-four-year money grab.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
-
The ruse was surprisingly straightforward.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
17 June 2026
-
Tsietsi was delighted by the ruse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The charges stem from a March 15 crime spree in southeast Portland that prosecutors said targeted four women.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
-
And Louis, perhaps exhausted from his spree of bouts, but also perhaps looking past Schmeling, hadn’t trained much.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The plea agreement reasserts that Lillig engaged in a years-long scheme, but only includes details of one instance of Lillig defrauding the church of $500.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
-
Warren's letter cites Department of Justice cases alleging third-party schemes diverted hundreds of millions in Nvidia chips, including H100s and H200s, to China.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Artists and couturiers are fond of the whimsy of trompe l’oeil, the trick of the eye, the illusion of reality.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Cohesion is the trick, and color does most of the work.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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