CHICANERIES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

chicanery

noun

shi-ˈkān-rē

Definition of chicanery

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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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 There’s a tremendous amount of financial chicanery that goes on in 2026. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for chicanery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chicanery

Noun

But the quarterback sneak has never worked well because of its deception.

— Sam McDowell November 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
The resulting models displayed resistance to monitoring, deception, and attempts at self-preservation.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

The killings and his six-week trial in 2023 captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of treachery

Noun

Galloping advances in technology invite subterfuge and theft.

— Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
The series unpacks the subterfuge and secrecy required to record the interviews and how Diana and Colthurst were on high alert while making the recordings, Barefield explained.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of subterfuge

Noun

On Saturday’s opening night in Westport the audience seemed to react particularly strongly to the characters’ more realistic relationship struggles and weren’t as responsive to the military skullduggery.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
International skullduggery in this case concerned the retrieving of two nuclear warheads from a treacherous Caribbean dictatorship.

— Ed Olmstead, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of skulduggery

Noun

Rarely does a pop album so deftly lay bare the trickery of pop albums, while remaining a compelling pop album in its own right.

— Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Narratively, the momentum crests at the protest, abetted by Maksimović’s most dynamic cinematic trickery — which extends to a shot from the perspective of the errant, offending stone.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Oct. 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

But the hamstring injury to the star outside linebacker is severe enough that Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t entertain such gamesmanship.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Whatever higher purpose goes along with espionage work tends to be lost in the gamesmanship and cynicism that seems to come with the territory.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of gamesmanship

Noun

The term seems to imply a mastery of all the resources of a form, displayed in a surprising context without self-conscious artfulness.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
No need to get bogged down in questions about provenance, artfulness, long-form storytelling, or even metaphors.

— Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of artfulness

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chicaned

chicanery

chicanes

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“Chicanery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chicanery. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of chicanery

noun

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