sleights

noun

plural of sleight
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleights
  1. ruses
  2. tricks
  3. schemes
  4. devices
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
  • Even before pro-party AI ruses were possible, the Chinese government and its supporters flooded social media with pro-China propaganda and vicious attacks on critics.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of ruses
Noun
  • Cirque du Soleil’s otherworldly adventure, combining high-flying tricks and underwater artistry, has been reimagined in Shared Reality.
    — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For account takeover, though, getting rid of the six-digit code could take away one of the easiest tricks in a scammer's playbook.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of tricks
Noun
  • Along the way, there are before-and-after floor plans, garden schemes, and a recipe for Meyers Family Hot Fudge.
    — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Their protection schemes might expect edge rushers, but both Van Ginkel and Turner could drift backward, making the interior more susceptible.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of schemes
Noun
  • Instead, Cramer pointed to Cook's ability to sustain the iPhone's appeal and keep consumers coming back through successive generations of premium devices.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Infecting already compromised devices Research published Monday brings the threat into much clearer view.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of devices

Browse Nearby Words

sleight of hand
sleights
sleights of hand
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Cite this Entry

“Sleights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleights. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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