Synonyms of trick

trick 1 of 3

noun

ˈtrik 

1

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end

her husband used every trick in the book to get out of appearing in his parish's fashion show

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruse
• scheme
• device
• stratagem
• ploy
• knack
• gambit
• jig
• dodge
• fetch
• sleight of hand
• gimmick
• wile
• sleight
• bluff
• flimflam
• play
• deception
• trickery
• cunning
• juggle
• hoax
• artifice
• subterfuge
• shenanigan
• feint
• end run
• cheating
• swindle
• legerdemain
• duplicity
• swindling
• jugglery
• fakery
• chicanery
• skulduggery
• gaff
• fraud
• dupery
• sham
• cozenage
• craft
• blind
• smoke screen
• front
• crookery

2

as in prank

a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke

thought that gluing the silver dollar to the floor and watching him struggle to pick it up would be a good trick

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prank
• experience
• practical joke
• adventure
• joking
• gag
• caper
• escapade
• time
• antic
• game
• capriccio
• shine(s)
• knavery
• kidding
• shavie
• rag
• roguery
• feat
• dido
• waggery
• frolic
• monkeyshine(s)
• stunt
• performance
• jest
• play
• lark
• deed
• ploy
• teasing
• hoax
• ruse
• trickery
• gambit
• tomfoolery
• maneuver
• high jinks
• mission
• stratagem
• skylarking
• fooling
• subterfuge
• deception
• roughhousing
• horseplay
• rowdyism
• shenanigan(s)
• wile
• whim
• whimsy
• vagary
• deceit
• delusion
• fancy
• conceit
• fraud
• sham
• hoodwinking
• caprice
• hanky-panky

3

as in ritual

a usual manner of behaving or doing

that deadbeat is up to his usual tricks: once again he's claiming the check is in the mail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ritual
• habit
• way
• practice
• custom
• tendency
• pattern
• wont
• routine
• second nature
• fashion
• turn
• inclination
• use
• addiction
• style
• mode
• habitude
• bag
• convention
• set
• characteristic
• bent
• trait
• manners
• proclivity
• disposition
• usage
• drill
• pose
• groove
• regime
• attribute
• rut
• affectation
• regimen
• rote
• peculiarity
• form
• tenor
• deportment
• mores
• quirk
• oddity
• singularity
• tic
• airs
• eccentricity
• kink
• jog trot
• mark

4

as in feat

an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness

it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• feat
• stunt
• deed
• exploit
• achievement
• performance
• success
• tour de force
• number
• coup
• triumph
• accomplishment
• adventure
• attainment

5

as in trait

an odd or peculiar habit

a dog with the trick of eating cabbage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trait
• characteristic
• twist
• quirk
• mannerism
• habit
• peculiarity
• idiosyncrasy
• quip
• oddity
• singularity
• tic
• eccentricity
• curiosity
• kink
• attribute
• practice
• way
• individualism
• erraticism
• crotchet
• tendency
• pattern
• affectation
• quiddity
• attitude
• property
• character
• wont
• custom
• personality
• addiction
• airs
• genius
• weirdness
• predilection
• turn
• penchant
• propensity
• bent
• perversion
• inclination
• proclivity
• abnormality
• humor
• mark
• identity
• predisposition
• disposition
• temperament
• partiality
• nature
• neuroticism
• individuality
• leaning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conformity
• sameness

trick

2 of 3

verb

as in to deceive

to cause to believe what is untrue

you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deceive
• fool
• tease
• kid
• mislead
• sucker
• dupe
• delude
• cheat
• hoax
• bamboozle
• hoodwink
• con
• spoof
• catch
• bluff
• juggle
• sting
• humbug
• misinform
• beguile
• misguide
• suck in
• gaff
• gull
• hornswoggle
• take in
• fake out
• cozen
• snow
• burn
• have
• have on
• string along
• snooker
• buffalo
• gammon
• stick
• pull one's leg
• do a number on
• lead one down the garden path
• swindle
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• put on
• defraud
• flimflam
• shortchange
• squeeze
• fleece
• bleed
• hustle
• diddle
• euchre
• chisel
• rook
• mulct
• skin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveal
• expose
• undeceive
• uncover
• show up
• tell
• unmask
• debunk
• disclose
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disenchant

trick

3 of 3

adjective

as in tricky

Related Words

• tricky
• sneaky
• cunning
• wily
• crafty
• subtle
• misleading
• sly
• deceptive
• underhanded
• deceiving
• slick
• devious
• foxy
• shifty
• artful
• subtile
• underhand
• trickish
• beguiling
• fallacious
• deceitful
• specious
• wrong
• perplexing
• delusive
• shady
• confounding
• puzzling
• guileful
• incorrect
• distracting
• sneaking
• inaccurate
• lying
• deluding
• fraudulent
• false
• delusory
• mendacious
• insidious
• untrustworthy
• dishonest
• duplicitous
• ambidextrous
• bogus
• fake
• bewildering
• sham
• feigned
• faithless
• dissembling
• knavish
• perfidious
• jive
• counterfeit
• treacherous
• phony
• untruthful
• crooked
• spurious
• ambiguous
• forged
• evasive
• defrauding
• fast
• double-dealing
• hypocritical
• backhanded
• insincere
• circuitous
• artificial
• equivocal
• two-faced
• left-handed

Dissimilar Words

• straightforward
• direct
• open
• plain
• straight
• forthright
• aboveboard
• frank
• illuminating
• candid
• explanatory
• outspoken
• clarifying
• nondeceptive
• revealing
• revelatory
• plainspoken
• trustworthy
• openhearted
• honest
• truthful
• elucidative
• free-spoken
• foursquare

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trick different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of trick are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When could artifice be used to replace trick?

Although the words artifice and trick have much in common, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for trick?

The words feint and trick can be used in similar contexts, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can maneuver take the place of trick?

While in some cases nearly identical to trick, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When can ruse be used instead of trick?

While the synonyms ruse and trick are close in meaning, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of trick?

In some situations, the words stratagem and trick are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is wile a more appropriate choice than trick?

The meanings of wile and trick largely overlap; however, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trick

Noun

In 2018, the Eagles won the Super Bowl on a trick play executed by a one-time third-round pick quarterback who got ditched a season earlier by the Kansas City Chiefs. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Luckily, my friend and recipe developer Lex Weibel taught me a trick that solves both problems. — Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Verb

Light tones reflect more light and trick the eye into seeing a bigger room. — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 20 July 2026

Football is all about engaño (trickery) — looking one way and passing the other, feinting to go left and swiftly moving right, manipulating the opposition and tricking them to open up those little spaces. — Xavi, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Adjective

As Halloween approaches, investors seem fearful that good credit performance may be more trick than treat. — Telis Demos, WSJ, 21 Oct. 2022

If the high cost of it all is more trick than treat for you, here are several ways to turn your already smart home into a spook-tacularly genius haunted house. — Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2021

Phrases Containing trick

• do the trick