TRICK Synonyms: 356 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

trick 1 of 3

noun

ˈtrik

Definition of trick

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

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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

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

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as in feat

an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here

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as in trait

an odd or peculiar habit a dog with the trick of eating cabbage

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trick

3 of 3

adjective

as in tricky

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

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 trick

Noun

The titular bed trick refers to the literary device, beloved by Shakespeare and by opera buffa, in which a lover sneaks into a bed and, under cover of darkness, is taken for someone else. — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026 The trick is that the body’s salty tissues conduct electricity, so a tiny voltage pulse from the hub could spread across the rat’s body to reach the implant. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

Mykal-Michelle Harris from Raven’s Home guest stars as Ruby, a mischievous moon imp who tricks Vee. — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 22 Sep. 2026 Wardle found that a simple variation of ClickFix attack—a technique that has become remarkably effective in tricking people into infecting their devices—is all that’s required for an attacker to take control of a Muse account. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for trick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trick

Noun

But as their love affair gets steamier and Haru frantically tries to maintain her elaborate ruse, the dance numbers lose their luster.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Litton had apparently set up a similar ruse at another small Seventh-day Adventist school, this one in Red Bluff, about 70 miles northwest of Oroville, sheriff’s officials said.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruse

Noun

Over at Team Mauve’s house, the prank starts falling into place when Green and his teammates Jodie Sweetin and Beverley Mitchell get a knock on the door regarding a pizza delivery.

— Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
The Muskego Police Department is warning Muskego High School students about consequences of pranks causing damage after the department received over 20 complaints in less than two weeks.

— Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of prank

Noun

My daughter was enchanted by the Balinese rice-on-the-forehead ritual for good fortune that is a part of the arrival, and the front desk staff happily indulged her request to do it again—multiple times a day.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Launching Thursday exclusively at Bloomingdale’s, the collaboration sees Altuzarra bring its design sensibility beyond the wardrobe and into the beauty ritual, pairing NuFace’s Mini+ in Sandy Rose with a NuFace x Altuzarra bag, priced at $379.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of ritual

Noun

Now, having accomplished the feat at such a young age, Lamine Yamal is poised to cash in for years to come.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The concierge is very knowledgeable and can get guests access to things like dinner or event reservations during Sundance Film Festival, and similar feats that otherwise would be impossible—and take that from me as an ex-local.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of feat

Verb

But 3-0 marks can be deceiving heading into a battle of unbeatens at home against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Boulder County accused the fossil fuel companies of deceiving the general public about the dangers of their oil and gas operations and the associated greenhouse gas emissions through their advertising and marketing.

— Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceive

Adjective

Defender Josh Yaro put Boise (14-8-7) on the board in the 11th minute in front of 7,219 fans, heading home a cross from Barea after a tricky corner kick.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2026
Sounds simple on paper, but this is a very tricky thing to achieve.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of tricky

Noun

Argentina’s citizen by investment scheme will offer numerous perks for travelers, including unlocking frictionless access to some of the most popular international destinations.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The administration’s language would establish a range of mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of loss involved in fraud schemes, according to the document.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of scheme

Browse Nearby Words

trichromatic

trick

tricked

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“Trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trick. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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