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
Relevance
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
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 sleight
Many seemingly complex magic tricks rely on a simple mix of old-fashioned sleight-of-hand and misdirection.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sleight
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sleight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleight
Noun
-
As Paula finally reaches Detective Gonzalez and excitedly chatters about her wire transfer ruse, the wry officer isn’t amused.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
What sometimes isn’t recognized is Romero’s ability to swing a bat.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
And the ability to afford grad school.—
Erika Ettin,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
With his high school career over at Fort Worth Christian, the nation’s consensus top prep baseball prospect, Grady Emerson, has been focused on staying in shape by mixing in speed, agility, strength and hitting work.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
-
The robot dog Inspired by the agility and balance of dogs, Spot has become one of the world’s most recognizable robots.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
And are there any tips and tricks for planning and executing the perfect anti-aging trip?—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Since Hathaway's viral video, people have posted themselves doing her trick, sometimes to shocking results.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The paint is deftly mottled but its handling lacks the prowess of her later work (see, for example, Being Beamed, 1984, a fantasia of extraterrestrial teleportation in which the watercolor is sumptuous but perfectly controlled).—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
For America, saving the structures that defined the country’s prowess in innovation, experimentation, and ingenuity means looking to a relatively recent past.—
Time,
Time,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Rozier was arrested in October along with former NBA player Damon Jones, who pleaded guilty last month for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel.—
Rebecca Boone,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
The storage scheme is no slouch, either.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
But when held up against the pantheon of medal-winning talent on the 45-strong entry list, Bucci’s was unlikely to be the name a punter would put forward as the winner.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
That aging ensemble bursts with talent — so much so that its writers don’t mind killing off the occasional gramps or gran.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The device was one of two that had been removed from the garage of an apartment in Santa Monica after they were discovered by a tenant in July.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Investigators said the device had the potential to damage an aircraft and cause a loss of cabin pressure.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleight. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
