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
Villa partook in multiple swap-like transfers last summer, a ploy undertaken by several Premier League clubs to boost bottom lines.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The other side: Navarro declared victory Wednesday after Trump paused the tariffs, describing the move as a brilliant pivot in a broader strategic ploy to extract concessions from foreign countries.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
Trang and two of her fellow O.G. rangers — Walter Emanuel Jones and Austin St. John — concocted a bold ploy to advocate for a fair wage when the children's action series became a super hit during its first season run in 1993.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the graders will be impressed by the brash ploy or get confused and assume the proofs are likely correct.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The other side: Navarro declared victory Wednesday after Trump paused the tariffs, describing the move as a brilliant pivot in a broader strategic ploy to extract concessions from foreign countries.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
Trang and two of her fellow O.G. rangers — Walter Emanuel Jones and Austin St. John — concocted a bold ploy to advocate for a fair wage when the children's action series became a super hit during its first season run in 1993.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the graders will be impressed by the brash ploy or get confused and assume the proofs are likely correct.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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Can Charity, who is not exactly mentally stable, maintain the ruse forever?—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
-
Despite multiple interviews, background checks, and reference calls, the ruse held until malware activity triggered an alert.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The killing spree occurred as authorities were trying to hunt down William G. Bonin, a former Downey truck driver known as the Freeway Killer.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
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Killing spree begins The first of the eight killings happened Nov. 27, 2017.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Hometown’s stock price rose by more than 900% during the scheme.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
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In 2021 and 2022, Robinson received about $76,000 through the bogus billing scheme, according to prosecutors.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Rea allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings, improving to 4-0 with another no-flash performance that did the trick.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 May 2025
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Label tricks, regional cues and color considerations for better picking at the wine shop.—
Rachel King,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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