as in ruses
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleights
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
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleights
Noun
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They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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Kids will quickly see through her ruses.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the middle, a Cartman in the role of a Midtown tax adviser dispenses accounting tips and tricks, culled from a YouTube account run by a real-life New York CPA.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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That makes many older attack tricks harder to pull off.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Shakespeare’s comedies especially understand the joy of watching people get trapped in schemes and plots well beyond their control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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State regulators have suspended hundreds of hospice licenses amid allegations of fraudulent billing and phantom patient schemes.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Looking for more travel-friendly tech devices for your journey?—
Aly Walansky,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
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Nearby homes were evacuated during the investigation, and the bomb squad hauled out boxes of what were described as consumer-grade pyrotechnic devices, enough to fill more than three box trucks, according to investigators at the scene.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleights. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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