ruse

Synonym Chooser

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 Or is this all one very expensive and beautifully shot Suzy Homemaker-esque ruse? Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 If all goes well, the grass will sprout before the birds figure out your ruse. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025 Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025 After realizing the ruse, Walton embarked on a crusade to ensure Smyth faced legal consequences for her actions. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ruse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruse
Noun
  • Doorbell pranks turn deadly This is not the first instance of a ding, dong, ditch prank ending in a shooting.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • But instead of playing soccer with his friends, 11-year-old Julián Guzman will be laid to rest Saturday – exactly one week after a popular children’s prank ended with a fatal gunshot wound to his back.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Advances in deception and seeking technologies will further shape this contest, as each side works to reduce the effectiveness of the other’s systems.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Minnesota’s Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson condemned the deception and affirmed how troubling the ambush was.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Thus, Last Rites tries a new trick, with the doll growing in size and chasing Judy down a hallway, in a sequence that is strangely reminiscent of Five Nights At Freddy's.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Grandma's favorite time-saving trick is to rely on the trusty the slow-cooker to make sweet, tender onions that require little to no stirring.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Maybe Payton’s running the best preseason subterfuge campaign ever to make Estime look bad on film.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
  • On the other side of this triangle, Conrad has his own Belly-management system, which relies heavily on subterfuge and mostly comes down to attempts to feed her.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Night after night the stratagem was repeated successfully.
    Robert Easton, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2025
  • For people like Soriano, however, the elections are about more than political stratagem and determining which family holds the most nominal power.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 13 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Ruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruse. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ruse

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