as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
that candidate only won the election through chicanery
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Recent Examples of chicanery
Jane was a devout Protestant at a time of religious upheaval, the ultimate innocent victim of the chicanery of the Tudor court in the chaotic aftermath of Henry VIII’s reign.
—
Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
In the book’s second half, especially, events pile up that have the surface appearance of big drama — a wildfire, a norovirus outbreak, some chicanery Sara unearths on the part of the prison contractor.
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Her example teaches us how such practices can protect innocent people while preventing political chicanery from undermining faith in the American system of governance.
—Rebecca Brenner Graham / Made By History, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
The more processes and services a security tool contains, the more opportunities for such chicanery.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicanery
Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
In the book’s second half, especially, events pile up that have the surface appearance of big drama — a wildfire, a norovirus outbreak, some chicanery Sara unearths on the part of the prison contractor.
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Her example teaches us how such practices can protect innocent people while preventing political chicanery from undermining faith in the American system of governance.
—Rebecca Brenner Graham / Made By History, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
The more processes and services a security tool contains, the more opportunities for such chicanery.
—PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicanery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicanery
Noun
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Through shocking testimonies from government insiders, confidential documents, and private audio recordings from the highest level of the military, BODYGUARD OF LIES exposes the tangled web of deception fed to the American public by the U.S. government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 2025
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Mauriello, a senior lecturer at the University of Maryland, said in his experience, people's sympathetic nervous system could be activated by a host of reasons — beyond deception.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Press play below to learn more about Wells’ treachery, and to get a sneak peek at the fugitive interacting with her latest target.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
7 Apr. 2025
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Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong, but whose silky promises are rooted in treachery.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The line that the AI isn’t forming a personal opinion is a kind of sneaky subterfuge.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea.—
Linggong Kong,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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Obviously, such a system is rife with uncertainty, and the history of the process is full of skulduggery, both on the club and player side.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But Scott has the power of love on his side (though the power of self-respect would serve him better) and, like many an underdog, relies more on clever trickery than physical prowess to win most of the battles.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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The ability to render the real world using charcoal is utter trickery.—
Emily Wilson,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Contract disputes, regulatory delays and political gamesmanship have choked off investment in transmission and generation.—
Dan Eberhart,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Or maybe — just maybe — there’s some gamesmanship at play.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When taken to court for this, following an investigation into their church, the Jehovah's Witnesses likened their approach to secrecy to Catholic confession.—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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The business of sports often is cloaked in secrecy.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Between April 1 and 7, the fair gathered 60 brands at the Palexpo exhibition center that broke new records, showcased world premieres and offered an ever-growing array of technical and artistic legerdemain in their latest high-end timepieces.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
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Congressional legerdemain can’t wave away that reality.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
4 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Chicanery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicanery. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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