trickster

noun

trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər 

: one who tricks: such as

a

: a dishonest person who defrauds others by trickery

b

: a person (such 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

Synonyms of trickster

• cheat
• dodger
• shark

Examples of trickster in a Sentence

a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings

a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear

Recent Examples on the Web

As the story goes, the trickster god Loki crashes a feast of 12 gods in Valhalla, with his hijinks leading to the death of the radiant god Balder. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

The flick brings Thor’s trickster adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) into the fold, plus keep your eyes open for a quick first appearance from ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

The Coens’ script really leans into the idea of Ulysses/Odysseus as a clever trickster fond of disguises and schemes. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026

Odysseus is a complex character known for being brilliant and crafty, but also being somewhat of an arrogant trickster. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing trickster

• confidence trickster

Kids Definition

trickster

noun

trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər 

: one who tricks: as

a

: a dishonest person who cheats others by trickery

b

: magician sense 2