trickery

noun

trick·​ery ˈtri-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce trickery (audio)
: the practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat
Choose the Right Synonym for trickery

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Examples of trickery in a Sentence

He resorted to trickery to get what he wanted. Delia resorted to trickery—even loading up the fishing equipment—to induce her dog into the car for his vet appointment.
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.
And yet Broncos' run game and offensive trickery isn't working. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025 Later on in the opening frame, the Knights extended their lead with some trickery. Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 Now era long, straight hair, sits up as the pastoral scene is literally pulled apart by stagehands, revealed as nothing more than show business trickery. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 If the ground attack can start to surge, Canales, quarterback Bryce Young and the passing attack can begin to sell more trickery behind the line of scrimmage. Mike Kaye october 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trickery

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trickery was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Trickery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trickery. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

trickery

noun
trick·​ery ˈtrik-(ə-)rē How to pronounce trickery (audio)
plural trickeries
: the use of tricks to deceive or cheat

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