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
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.
McGriff allegedly tried the ruse at a nearby house first but was turned away, Tisch said.—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025 As told to the Economist podcast Scam Inc, this was all a ruse.—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Today’s shortsighted, sellout city politicians are killing the golden goose under the ruse that affordable housing is the be-all and the end-all of life in San Diego.—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025 Kurt's key takeaway Phishing scams are constantly evolving, and the DocuSign Apple Pay ruse is just one of many.—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ruse
Word History
Etymology
French, from Old French, roundabout path taken by fleeing game, trickery, from reuser
Share