ruse

noun

ˈrüs  ˈrüz 

: a wily subterfuge

a ruse to steal my money

Choose the Right Synonym for ruse

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.

trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Examples of ruse in a Sentence

His act was just a clever ruse to get me to go out with him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, this could all be a literally and figurative swift ruse on the part of the Miss Americana superstar and her Super Bowl-winning fiancé. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 June 2026

Several individuals from the white sprinter van, who were dressed as construction workers, were said to have used that ruse to gain access to the alleyway and fire escape system located behind the store by entering an East 58th Street building nearby that was under construction. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 June 2026

Even as cracks began to appear in her story, Parker doubled down on the deception, fabricating medical records and pregnancy updates to keep the ruse alive. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

The ruse was surprisingly straightforward. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, roundabout path taken by fleeing game, trickery, from reuser

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ruse

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• bruise
• chews
• choose
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews

Kids Definition

ruse

noun

ˈrüs 

ˈrüz

: a clever way to fool someone : trick

Geographical Definition

Ruse

geographical name

Ru·​se ˈrü-(ˌ)sā 

variants or Turkish Ruschuk

ru̇s-ˈchük 

city in northeastern Bulgaria on the Danube River south of Bucharest population 148,500