ARTIFICE Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

artifice

noun

ˈär-tə-fəs

Definition of artifice

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end used the artifice of saying his grandmother had died so that he could get the last seat on the plane

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as in cunning

skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means using their artifice, the Greeks crafted a hollow wooden horse to hide inside and thereby gained entry into the city of Troy

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as in skill

subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something a painting that could only have been created with the artifice of a master

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery a crook who is a master of artifice and manipulation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in treachery

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end he's willing to resort to artifice to get himself out of this jam

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 But political movements that reject the mysterious pleasures of artifice are only doing themselves a disservice by excluding those who otherwise would be ideologically aligned with them. — Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Muir’s transformations celebrate artifice. — Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026 Both are interested, in different ways, in notions of artifice and authenticity. — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026 Lama, a social activist of several decades, sheds any sense of artifice in playing the headstrong Pirati, a woman whose convictions are as compelling as her desires, her vulnerabilities and even her hypocrisies. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for artifice

Recent Examples of Synonyms for artifice

Noun

But don’t sit at home, doing random tasks for empty nonprofits, believing in the ruse of fulfilling the necessary 200 volunteer hours to get into college.

— Anya Joseph, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Even before pro-party AI ruses were possible, the Chinese government and its supporters flooded social media with pro-China propaganda and vicious attacks on critics.

— Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of ruse

Noun

Harry and the six other high-profile claimants failed to prove their allegations that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through methods including private investigators, deception, phone hacking and corrupt payments.

— Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Alleged privacy breaches include voicemail interception, phone hacking and obtaining personal information through deception.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

All of this shone vividly through his work, which shared his joy, artfulness and deep feeling, and most of all privileged human experience and social interaction.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Mike Bowman, designer, furniture industry expert, and director of marketing for Harmonia Living, says this trend relies on furnishings to bring artfulness to a space—rather than just functionality.

— Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026

Definition of artfulness

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artifacts

artifice

artificer

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“Artifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artifice. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of artifice

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