1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
must have employed some sophisticated sleight to con that wary couple out of their money
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
a brilliant new theory that pays tribute to his remarkable sleight of mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity
a muscle-bound weight lifter known more for his might than his sleight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleight
The short-seller set out its allegations on March 17, blasting out a report to journalists and social media that claimed SoFi had not actually sold a $312 million loan package but kept it on the company’s books with a sleight-of-hand financing arrangement.
—
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Carol is understandably freaked out; the robot is straight from the uncanny valley, with Dobbins and the filmmakers delivering a thoroughly unsettling sleight-of-hand.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Curtsies, snubs, sleights and behavior becoming (or unbecoming) of a Regency woman must pass a certain muster, because the world of the play is dependent upon dramaturgical accuracy.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Fugitive was wanted in 3 countries, NYC CBS News New York saw video that shows a man and a woman engaging in a sleight-of-hand con that ended with the woman slipping an $11,000 diamond bracelet into her other hand.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleight
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Carol is understandably freaked out; the robot is straight from the uncanny valley, with Dobbins and the filmmakers delivering a thoroughly unsettling sleight-of-hand.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Curtsies, snubs, sleights and behavior becoming (or unbecoming) of a Regency woman must pass a certain muster, because the world of the play is dependent upon dramaturgical accuracy.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Fugitive was wanted in 3 countries, NYC CBS News New York saw video that shows a man and a woman engaging in a sleight-of-hand con that ended with the woman slipping an $11,000 diamond bracelet into her other hand.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleight
Noun
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One team of successful attorneys created an elaborate ruse a couple of years ago that involved a private jet and an Oscar-worthy acting job.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
This clever ruse thwarted the late-summer naval attack.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Iran's ability to impede shipping traffic through the strait, which transports roughly 20% of the world's oil, has roiled the global economy and driven up gas prices in the United States.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
24 May 2026
-
Davis’ ability to reflect and respond with his pithy probing of the disagreeing chord turned chaos into something cogent.—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
In dog sports like obedience or agility, handlers are in charge, but in barn hunt, the dog is the team captain, said Robin Nuttall, who started the barn hunt in 2012 to prove that her miniature pinscher, Zipper, could root out vermin as she had been bred to do.—
Ross Mantle,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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According to the company, these movements help train balance, agility, slip recovery, and thermal endurance needed for harsh working environments.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Even when some of the tricks become apparent, each new repetition somehow delivers more than the last, though the weightless, old-school video game aesthetic of the alien monster design sticks out even more amid the stylishness of the world captured in-camera.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 May 2026
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Vogue consulted with masterful artists such as Tasha Reiko Brown, Amy Komorowski, Emma Day, and Aika Danica Flores to get their tricks for achieving low-key, everyday makeup looks that are undetectable to even the most trained of eyes.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Noun
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The drills also come months after the last nuclear arms pact between Russia and Washington broke down and amid a spate of comments from Putin touting the prowess of Moscow's nuclear forces.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Joe Mack has steadily shown off his defensive prowess since making his MLB debut earlier this month.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Season One of Off Campus centers hockey captain Garret Graham (Belmont Cameli) and music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), who start a mutually beneficial fake-dating scheme.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
-
Smartcards from this point on had much more powerful chips running much more powerful encryption schemes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The three hundred players are identified during the preceding summer and fall, when team scouts scour the country to evaluate prospective college talent.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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There aren’t many options for the Pistons to upgrade from someone his age, with his talent and frame.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
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All rooms feature wheelchair-accessible doors, lowered peepholes, light switches, and closet door handles; a roll-in shower or tub with grab bars; and teletypewriters and telecommunications devices available upon request.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
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So far, consumer electronics have borne the brunt of the DRAM shortage, as chipmakers like Nvidia reserve their limited supply for AI chips instead of those used in less powerful devices.—
Katie Tarasov,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleight. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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