tricky

adjective

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\ ˈtri-kē

trickier; trickiest

Definition of tricky

1 : inclined to or marked by trickery

2a : giving a deceptive impression of easiness, simplicity, or order : ticklish a tricky path through the swamp

b : trick sense 2

3 : requiring skill, knack, or caution (as in doing or handling) : difficult a tricky problem also : ingenious a tricky rhythm

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Other Words from tricky Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About tricky

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Choose the Right Synonym for tricky

sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means. sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods. a sly corporate raider cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing. the cunning fox avoided the trap crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. a crafty lefthander wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. the wily fugitive escaped the posse tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering. a tricky political operative foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. a foxy publicity man planting stories artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness. elicited the information by artful questioning slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. slick operators selling time-sharing

Examples of tricky in a Sentence

The lock is tricky to open. a tricky musical passage for the woodwind section

Recent Examples on the Web Access is such a tricky thing, of course, to tell these kinds of stories, and in getting that kind of trust. — Brendan O'meara, Longreads, 10 May 2022 The tricky thing is that although people can still be productive from home, some companies can still argue the value of face-to-face interactions. — David Miller, ABC News, 3 May 2022 Presidential attempts at humor can be tricky, though. — Farnoush Amiri And Will Weissert, USA TODAY, 1 May 2022 Presidential attempts at humor can be tricky, though. — Will Weissert, ajc, 30 Apr. 2022 Presidential attempts at humor can be tricky, though. — al, 30 Apr. 2022 Moving isn't easy or cheap, so deciding when to take your freelancing life to another town can be tricky. — CBS News, 29 Apr. 2022 How companies compensate relocating workers can be tricky. — Preetika Rana, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Getting diagnosed with pustular psoriasis can be tricky. — Fatima Fahs, SELF, 29 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tricky.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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