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Synonym Chooser

How is the word artifice different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of artifice are feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for artifice?

While in some cases nearly identical to artifice, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

When can maneuver be used instead of artifice?

While the synonyms maneuver and artifice are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When is ruse a more appropriate choice than artifice?

The synonyms ruse and artifice are sometimes interchangeable, but ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

Where would stratagem be a reasonable alternative to artifice?

The words stratagem and artifice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is it sensible to use trick instead of artifice?

The meanings of trick and artifice largely overlap; however, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When might wile be a better fit than artifice?

The words wile and artifice can be used in similar contexts, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of artifice The underground pop of the 2010s used to get so excited about being online, using shrinky-dink artifice to delight in poking fun at a culture that could feel shallow and strange but also organic and endlessly renewable. Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2025 Their lack of artifice allows some of the cast’s other teen/20-something performers to go broad and big, especially Isolde Ardies, whose terrifying intensity as a sad-eyed rule-follower named Stacey is a real highlight. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025 Two years of relentless violence have stripped the artifice from the Israeli political system. Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025 As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making. Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for artifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artifice
Noun
  • But the ruse hits a snag when Taylor's boss (Tia Mowry) starts to question Hugh Mann's credentials, and Taylor starts dating the son of the resort owner (New Amsterdam's Ryan Eggold).
    Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • My office was among those that were subjected to this ruse.
    Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Federico Marchetti, the Italian fashion entrepreneur, is a master of sprezzatura—the courtier’s art of cloaking ambition and cunning in an air of guileless nonchalance.
    John Seabrook, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • But Israeli cunning, buoyed by remarkable intelligence capabilities and precision targeting, has damaged the group.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Encourage your self-expression in verbal and written skills.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Teachers and parents are worried that regular chatbot use could weaken important skills such as communication, empathy and critical thinking.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Neither Eliot nor Jules suspected anything, and the ease of the deception added to its pleasing sordidness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • On October 14, those flights revealed missile sites under construction, confirming that Soviet promises had been deliberate deception.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And when the surviving crew interrogates the android Ash about his treachery, the book has him pretty much spill the space beans.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
  • When does compromise become treachery or defeat?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His conviction stemmed from a series of criminal schemes, including submitting false campaign finance documents, misusing donor identities to route funds for personal and campaign use, and providing fraudulent information to the New York State Department of Labor and the House of Representatives.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Doors and Window Frames in a Deep Shade The final component of Berkus’ three-color scheme is the deeper tone, often a darker shade of the wall color, used for doors or window frames.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There is a real seriousness to the score — the scheming bad-guy music has the artfulness of Prokofiev, and even the sneaking-around cues have musical integrity and structure.
    Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Over the course of eight episodes, the show traces how mounting pressures, deceit and betrayal led to Alex murdering Maggie and Paul in 2021.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The phone call ignited a shocking chain of events that ultimately uncovered Murdaugh’s long history of lies and deceit, culminating in him murdering his wife and son.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Artifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artifice. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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