as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
the judge ordered the corporation to hand over all records, with no jiggery-pokery about unexpected problems and missing information
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Recent Examples of jiggery-pokery
The point is that the Constitution says that Congress has the sole power to decide what the country spends on, and with a bit of jiggery-pokery, this court let all the air out of those words.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jiggery-pokery
Noun
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The unscripted show will feature a group of contestants who undergo physical and mental challenges, collecting clues before they are launched into a real-life game of detective work and deception.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
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The series will feature a group of contestants facing physical and mental challenges to collect clues before stepping into a real-life game of deduction and deception.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And yet Broncos' run game and offensive trickery isn't working.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
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Later on in the opening frame, the Knights extended their lead with some trickery.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
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Democrats have stood still for this chicanery every time it’s been tried in the past.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In the end, the subterfuge with Priester served merely as a subplot.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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The act of subterfuge was particularly common in the 2000s, amidst America’s unpopular foreign policy and the country’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And when the surviving crew interrogates the android Ash about his treachery, the book has him pretty much spill the space beans.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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When does compromise become treachery or defeat?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And though O’Neil, who has been inside, says the building itself is in no shape for skullduggery, that doesn’t mean said skullduggery isn’t happening elsewhere.—
A.K. Whitney,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
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The American people are seeking solace and inspiration from its leaders, not pettiness and skullduggery.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But bringing in Leo Rivas was perfect gamesmanship The Mariners love to play matchup with their DH spot, seeking opportunities for Mitch Garver against lefties and Dom Canzone against righties.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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The tale of Rip Van Winkle is nested within various layers of storytelling, to a degree that can be confounding even for contemporary readers accustomed to such authorial gamesmanship.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
Cite this Entry
“Jiggery-pokery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jiggery-pokery. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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