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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subterfuge
But this subterfuge is perhaps the very substance of the paintings.
—
Zoë Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
The line that the AI isn’t forming a personal opinion is a kind of sneaky subterfuge.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea.
—Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterfuge
Zoë Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
The line that the AI isn’t forming a personal opinion is a kind of sneaky subterfuge.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea.
—Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterfuge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subterfuge
Noun
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This stylization gives her a veneer of being disarmingly kind; but ultimately, is a form of deception that caused Sophie to fatally trust this person.—
Tiffany Leigh,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the overnight mission relied on deception, aerial refueling, and near-total radio silence to hit Iran's Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities—sites that had withstood weeks of sustained Israeli attacks.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The six-parter, to debut July 14, follows six groups of friends, and six historical cases of murder and treachery among them.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
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But amid the bloodbaths and treacheries, Westeros still penciled in time for a little romance — some more compelling than others (Jon and Ygritte > Jon and Daenerys).—
Tyler Aquilina,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That trickery only works when the players understand the layers of the system on a detailed level.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2025
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This trickery is a cost-saving measure in that the orchid does not have to manufacture nectar or prodigious amounts of expensive pollen.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Despite the chicanery, this is a solid deal for a phone that isn’t wildly different from the Pixel 9.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Given the lawfare that tracks the uncertainty of our moral foundation, Henry Johnson is more pertinent than Oleanna, Mamet’s prophesy of the chicanery in the Me Too movement.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 May 2025
Noun
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He’s arguably been Florida’s best player in this Stanley Cup Final run, scoring 15 goals through 22 games, on top of his usual gamesmanship and physical antics.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
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Mike McCabe, the veteran gaming industry executive who heads the EWC Foundation, explained how gamesmanship would influence every aspect of the event.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Noun
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From encounters with mermaids, the devil and even Robin Hood to themes of superstition and skulduggery, these short tales are perfect escapism to dip in and out of during your summer vacation.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the answer to bureaucratic inefficiency is not secrecy and self-regulation.—
Marcus Friedman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 June 2025
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The mission was reportedly planned by a small group of senior military officials under strict secrecy.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The chief specimen here (played by MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry) is a massive beast whose brute strength is matched by his cunning.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
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On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subterfuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subterfuge. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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