Thesaurus results for RUSE

Q: How is the word 'ruse' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of ruse are artifice , feint , maneuver , stratagem , trick , and wile . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

Q: When would 'artifice' be a good substitute for 'ruse'?

The meanings of artifice and ruse largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

Q: When is it sensible to use 'feint' instead of 'ruse'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ruse , feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent. // a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Q: When might 'maneuver' be a better fit than 'ruse'?

In some situations, the words maneuver and ruse are roughly equivalent. However, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

Q: When can 'stratagem' be used instead of 'ruse'?

The synonyms stratagem and ruse are sometimes interchangeable, but stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy. // the stratagem -filled game

Q: When could 'trick' be used to replace 'ruse'?

The words trick and ruse 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

Q: When is 'wile' a more appropriate choice than 'ruse'?

Although the words wile and ruse have much in common, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

ruse

noun

Definition of ruse

as in prank

an act that is used to fool someone His act was just a clever ruse to get me to go out with him.

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

Some common synonyms of ruse are artifice, feint, maneuver, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When would artifice be a good substitute for ruse?

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

the clever artifices of the stage

When is it sensible to use feint instead of ruse?

While in some cases nearly identical to ruse, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

When might maneuver be a better fit than ruse?

In some situations, the words maneuver and ruse are roughly equivalent. However, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When can stratagem be used instead of ruse?

The synonyms stratagem and ruse are sometimes interchangeable, but stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When could trick be used to replace ruse?

The words trick and ruse 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

When is wile a more appropriate choice than ruse?

Although the words wile and ruse have much in common, 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 ruse The ruse reportedly left even some White House aides in the dark. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 The Washington Post revealed the ruse in a story on Monday night, shocking the reporters who were aboard the July 8 flight. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 Holland, a 2 handicap golfer, resigned his membership at WingHaven Country Club, located in O’Fallon, after his ruse came to light. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 There’s a delightful secret history of Hollywood directors whose ruses and stratagems bought them an unusual amount of leeway with their scripts. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruse

Noun

Jimmy Kimmel Fallon and Kimmel – both members of Strike Force Five – pulled off a cross-network prank in 2022.

— Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Swatting is a criminal prank where individuals place fake calls to 911 for a specific location with the goal of getting a law enforcement response to that location.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of prank

Noun

Her backstory is littered with half-truths and deceptions, including a lie that her mentally disabled younger sister was murdered after being kidnapped.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
In modern times, as threats have evolved, deception with moving the president has been an integral part of the Secret Service protective methodologies.

— Donald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

Then, use one of these simple tricks to remove leftover wax and scrub soot away with warm water, soap, and a brush when you’re done.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Though the trick watch that recorded Sang-gil’s incriminating meeting with the mayor has been destroyed, Eun-sae backed up the footage.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of trick

Noun

What subterfuge has the author devised within a sentence, and what chills of humor or irony will run across its surface as the subterfuge is discovered?

— Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026
Her subterfuge eventually drives Frank to unknowingly hire Ariane’s own father to learn her identity.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 18 July 2026

Definition of subterfuge

Noun

There’s a delightful secret history of Hollywood directors whose ruses and stratagems bought them an unusual amount of leeway with their scripts.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Through Elizabeth’s rise from servant to visionary who resisted Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church to gain a divorce, Brown explores historical women’s stratagems for self-determination.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of stratagem

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“Ruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruse. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruse

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