1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party
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2
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun
wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ploy
One of Gavin Newsom’s political ploys is to depict political rivals as bullies and himself as someone who stands up to them.
—
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The announcements of new military maneuvers could also be a negotiating ploy to pressure Hamas to make compromises.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Google Messages already monitors texts for other types of popular ploys like fake job offers and bogus package theft alerts.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
Critics lambasted the spaceflight as a ploy to promote Blue Origin's pricey tickets to space and called out the contradiction of touting environmental concern despite contributing to pollution.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The announcements of new military maneuvers could also be a negotiating ploy to pressure Hamas to make compromises.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Google Messages already monitors texts for other types of popular ploys like fake job offers and bogus package theft alerts.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
Critics lambasted the spaceflight as a ploy to promote Blue Origin's pricey tickets to space and called out the contradiction of touting environmental concern despite contributing to pollution.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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The Republicans’ billionaire populism has always been a ruse.—
Jim Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2025
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When Jonny and Dan were alone at camp, the two friends revealed that the entire story was a ruse!—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
30 May 2025
Noun
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That was one of the assets that Lilly acquired as part of its acquisition spree in 2023 , and muscle mass preservation is one of its distinguishing features.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
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Still in Cherryvale today, the town’s historical museum features a section dedicated to the Benders – including photographs, replicas of wanted posters, and even a set of three hammers believed to have been used by the family in their three-year murder spree.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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At the end of February, a pedestrian was hit in West London by an ebike rider in West London — not a rental or sharing scheme, to be clear — and died after a month in hospital.—
Nicole Kobie,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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This scheme netted Smith over $10 million in royalties before he was caught.—
Tyler Hicks,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The secret trick of reconciliation is that Congress gets a chance to add tweaks to the budget — to reconcile it — twice every federal fiscal year.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
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The trick was to keep them distant and yet connected, and find ways to not make the audience wait to see their chemistry, because the John Corbett and Sarah Jessica Parker chemistry is undeniable and a gift.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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