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

Loki Loki is the Norse god of mischief and he’s known as a trickster—sometimes for good, sometimes a bit more devious. —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Apr. 2026

Jenna Bush Hager's 12-year-old daughter is turning out to be quite the trickster. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026

These are the chapters that feature the merry trickster of the forest, Tom Bombadil, a classic fiddle-dee-dee-mischief type who waylays the hobbits at the onset of their quest. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026

Traditional footwork is a trickster—a genre produced with the purpose of surprising light-footed dancers by introducing new rhythms every few bars. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 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