chicanery

noun

shi-ˈkān-rē How to pronounce chicanery (audio)
Definition of chicanerynext
as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end that candidate only won the election through chicanery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 chicanery Not many people, however, concluded that financial chicanery at executive level should be used as a stick with which to beat the players and coaches who had won those trophies over the years in question. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 May 2026 There was some physicality – McAvoy absolutely buried Peyton Krebs off the hop – but little post-whistle chicanery. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Just typical power-grabbing Idaho lawmaker chicanery, right? — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026 In light of the chicanery that happens in the episode, the phrase also suggests a bit of victim-blaming for the harvesting of personal data. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chicanery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicanery
  1. deception
  2. treachery
  3. subterfuge
  4. skulduggery
  5. trickery
  6. deceptiveness
  7. gamesmanship
  8. artfulness
Noun
  • Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, has highlighted a shift in tactics in museum thefts, from deception and stealth to more aggressive and violent methods.
    — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Although Silo 1 discovered her deception, the rebels clamped the pipe in the knick of time.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of deception
Noun
  • Was there a whiff of treachery among this crew, someone who might betray them to the Germans?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
  • For his treachery in conspiring with Gwayne, Daemon claims Corlys as his own prisoner.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of treachery
Noun
  • The cover art sets it up perfectly, a dreamlike subterfuge that transforms the Villarreals into mythological Greek heroines.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The subterfuge involved him stowing away in an airport catering container to sneak onto the jet.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of subterfuge
Noun
  • There are no federal protections against this skullduggery, and only 10 states have enacted dedicated statutes to combat the problem, according to Equity Protect.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of skulduggery
Noun
  • Between the huge practical sets and stunts, the matte paintings and in-camera trickery, the on-location filming, and a leading man at the height of his movie star powers, Spielberg and his team performed the filmmaking equivalent of wizardry.
    — Frank DeRuggiero, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Football is all about engaño (trickery) — looking one way and passing the other, feinting to go left and swiftly moving right, manipulating the opposition and tricking them to open up those little spaces.
    — Xavi, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of trickery
Noun
  • Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.
    — Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of deceptiveness
Noun
  • The focus on metrics also highlights the challenges of measuring the performance of large language models using standardized benchmark tests and concerns that the specs are prone to manipulation and gamesmanship.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, McVay playing coy could just be gamesmanship for his respected colleague and fellow head coach, Kyle Shanahan.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of gamesmanship
Noun
  • No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of artfulness

Browse Nearby Words

chicaned
chicanery
chicanes
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Cite this Entry

“Chicanery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicanery. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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