SUBTERFUGE Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'subterfuge' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of subterfuge are deception , double-dealing , fraud , and trickery . While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end. // obtained the papers by subterfuge

Q: When could 'deception' be used to replace 'subterfuge'?

Although the words deception and subterfuge have much in common, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource. // magicians are masters of deception

Q: Where would 'double-dealing' be a reasonable alternative to 'subterfuge'?

The words double-dealing and subterfuge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude. // a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Q: When can 'fraud' be used instead of 'subterfuge'?

In some situations, the words fraud and subterfuge are roughly equivalent. However, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice. // indicted for fraud

Q: When is 'trickery' a more appropriate choice than 'subterfuge'?

The words trickery and subterfuge can be used in similar contexts, but trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat. // resorted to trickery to gain their ends

subterfuge

noun

ˈsəb-tər-ˌfyüj

Definition of subterfuge

as in deception

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end propagandists who use a kind of photographic subterfuge, superimposing one image on another to create a false "reality"

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How does the noun subterfuge differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of subterfuge are deception, double-dealing, fraud, and trickery. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

When could deception be used to replace subterfuge?

Although the words deception and subterfuge have much in common, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

Where would double-dealing be a reasonable alternative to subterfuge?

The words double-dealing and subterfuge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

When can fraud be used instead of subterfuge?

In some situations, the words fraud and subterfuge are roughly equivalent. However, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When is trickery a more appropriate choice than subterfuge?

The words trickery and subterfuge can be used in similar contexts, but trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

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 subterfuge What subterfuge has the author devised within a sentence, and what chills of humor or irony will run across its surface as the subterfuge is discovered? — Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026 Her subterfuge eventually drives Frank to unknowingly hire Ariane’s own father to learn her identity. — Air Mail, 18 July 2026 The majority sees this as subterfuge. — Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 The Blacks’ defeat would be certain if not for dragons and subterfuge. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for subterfuge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subterfuge

Noun

Leaders managing autonomous agent deployments across enterprise environments have spent years auditing outputs for compliance, deception vectors and guardrail breaches.

— Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Those charges cover a wide range of behaviors related to schemes in which money or property is obtained through deception and interstate electronic communications.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

Course designer Leopoldo Palacios’s influential track featured a rollback to the water tray — a bit of trickery that Palacios had famously used at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and had shelved since.

— Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Extremism, in both parties, is a tool of propagandists trying to win elections through trickery.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of trickery

Noun

Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.

— Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025

Definition of deceptiveness

Noun

Whatever higher purpose goes along with espionage work tends to be lost in the gamesmanship and cynicism that seems to come with the territory.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
The focus on metrics also highlights the challenges of measuring the performance of large language models using standardized benchmark tests and concerns that the specs are prone to manipulation and gamesmanship.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of gamesmanship

Noun

There are no federal protections against this skullduggery, and only 10 states have enacted dedicated statutes to combat the problem, according to Equity Protect.

— Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of skulduggery

Noun

After 20 years at Guantanamo without charges, alleged Bin Laden associate Abu Zubaydah faces a rare detention review, exposing the secrecy surrounding post-9/11 military justice.

— ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Integral to an awareness of nuclear dangers is an end to the regime of secrecy—or at least substantial reform.

— Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of secrecy

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subtenants

subterfuge

subterranean

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“Subterfuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subterfuge. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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