as in magic
the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment
Houdini's powers of prestidigitation remain legendary to this very day
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Recent Examples of prestidigitation
All are likely to face formidable new competition, although an argument can be made that more venues will create more demand in a city with an auspicious history of prestidigitation.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
But what drew Carson to this kind of misdirection and prestidigitation to begin with?
—Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
But what drew Carson to this kind of misdirection and prestidigitation to begin with?
—Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
Caleb weaves prestidigitation into most every snap.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
In this era of the prestidigitation that is digitation, the sheer, laundry-bag bulk of the contents of these archives is stunning.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 10 May 2023
But the magician must constantly update his tricks as the audience catches on, and new crises reveal the mechanisms behind the prestidigitation.
—Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022
DelGaudio jettisoned most of the trappings of magic shows and used his prestidigitation skills in service of a meditation on identity.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2021
Talk about a feat of prestidigitation: Jordan Michelman recently turned water into a James Beard Award.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2020
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
But what drew Carson to this kind of misdirection and prestidigitation to begin with?
—Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
But what drew Carson to this kind of misdirection and prestidigitation to begin with?
—Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2024
Caleb weaves prestidigitation into most every snap.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
In this era of the prestidigitation that is digitation, the sheer, laundry-bag bulk of the contents of these archives is stunning.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 10 May 2023
But the magician must constantly update his tricks as the audience catches on, and new crises reveal the mechanisms behind the prestidigitation.
—Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022
DelGaudio jettisoned most of the trappings of magic shows and used his prestidigitation skills in service of a meditation on identity.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2021
Talk about a feat of prestidigitation: Jordan Michelman recently turned water into a James Beard Award.
—oregonlive, 3 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prestidigitation
magic
Noun
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His experience could bring more leadership to a team yearning to replicate the magic of its championship-winning 2023-24 season.—
Andy Theobald,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2025
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After considering hundreds of nominations from our readers and contributors, our editors whittled those down to this year’s magic 10.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prestidigitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prestidigitation. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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