feint 1 of 2

feint

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can artifice take the place of feint?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When might maneuver be a better fit than feint?

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

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace feint?

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of feint?

In some situations, the words stratagem and feint are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When can trick be used instead of feint?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Where would wile be a reasonable alternative to feint?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, 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 feint
Noun
The reveal that precocious little Maisie Lockwood is actually a clone gives a human face to the vague ethical quandary Fallen Kingdom feints at. James Grebey, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025 When the second Trump Administration, during its first week, feinted toward freezing federal funding programs, universities were among the institutions whose blood ran cold. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Still, the film thankfully skirts the edge of any dismaying tropes and instead pays off his various noble feints. Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 30 June 2025 Body feints are still part of Messi’s late-career repertoire, as well. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for feint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint
Noun
  • The reptile, which hibernates individually in holes, burrows or rock crevices, prefers to live along ridgelines and bluffs, especially on south and southwest facing slopes.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Aug. 2025
  • That was thanks to its nearly 30 miles of hiking trails, beaches, and more, along with dramatic 500-foot quartzite bluffs and a stunning 360-acre lake.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • These phrases are emotional napalm disguised as communication.
    Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Together, the women form a secret pact — disguised as a book club— to exact revenge.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Japan—a key United States security ally—tracked Russian and Chinese spy ships sailing near its coastline, as Moscow and Beijing flexed their naval power through joint maneuvers.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Not long after, Brady looked helpless on his final snap as a Patriot, standing at the 1-yard line with nine seconds left because of that maneuver, which Stretch stole from Brady’s head coach and turned against them both.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Federal prosecutors say this was part of a broader scheme to conceal the pair’s personal relationship while billing the city for on-duty hours.
    Jasmine Baehr , David Spunt , Bill Mears, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Video posted by the agency shows a man grabbing Megara and attempting to conceal the turkey under his coat before walking away.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The tower would be camouflaged by artificial leaves and branches, and placed on a 14-acre property hundreds of feet from the nearest home, the company said.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2025
  • The fabric does cling to dust and pet hair, but the gray chalk color camouflages it brilliantly.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Titles and credentials can mask a wide range of ability, and blind trust can lead to mistakes.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • There’s some side theories about it being used as a masking agent.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • From feigning ignorance to minimizing violence and praising its perpetrators, U.S. governments and presidents have long used deceptive rhetoric to legitimize the violence of leaders and countries the U.S. supports.
    Esther Brito Ruiz, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2025
  • All research seems to indicate that this back-to-back joke from 1985 was the lodestar for the meme of a socially inept teen feigning virile worldliness with a gal in America's northern neighbor country.
    Jordan Hoffman Updated, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

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