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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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trick

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verb

trick

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adjective

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
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 And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 June 2021
Verb
Another dog has taken Storm's trick even further, balancing a can on her head and walking 100 meters in only 2 minutes and 55 seconds. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 There will be trick-or-treating for kids through downtown shops and Halloween costume parties for adults throughout island establishments in the evening. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
With its cozy imagery, from moonlit pumpkin patches to trick-or-treating in classic ghost costumes, this film has stood the test of time for six decades. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025 Many of the women who spoke Monday addressed that claim directly, saying they were tricked and coerced from the start and that the deceit went far beyond one lie about where the video would be distributed. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trick
Noun
  • Police said McGriff employed the ruse to access the couple's Queens residence and then set it ablaze.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • McGriff allegedly tried the ruse at a nearby house first but was turned away, Tisch said.
    Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Brown was charged with misdemeanor misusing 911 — a charge one expert said is typically brought against prank callers, not those in a mental crisis.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Still, Shannon promised, no pranks this time, because the movie at hand is too important.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Wellness is embedded into every touchpoint - from sunrise cacao rituals on the beach to temazcal ceremonies led by local healers.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That ritual has become both mirror and armor—the quiet mathematics that kept her whole.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Scott was recently appointed the creative director of Proenza Schouler; not a small feat, especially for a Black woman hailing from Jamaica.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
  • What about a drone, which could easily manage the feat?
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On the other hand, balanced searching involves looking for both positive and negative traits for a more complete evaluation.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Still, coaches and teammates in Brooklyn praised his professionalism and defensive energy, two traits that could help him make a case for a limited role.
    Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This requires honesty, particularly self-honesty, as leaders can deceive themselves with what seems like progress.
    Dmitry Malin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The band’s attorneys said that consumers could be easily deceived by the products allegedly sold on the marketplace, which could, in turn, cause reputational damage for Twenty One Pilots and its legitimate products.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The cost of living continues to increase for Americans at a time when the job market appears to be on shakier footing, creating a complicated economic problem that could be tricky to solve.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Health insurance coverage could also prove tricky.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Roberts and Robinson, who federal prosecutors say conducted the scheme over the course of five years, between 2018 and 2023, allegedly stole $900,000 from the court system.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Just look at the offense — more weapons, better scheme, more support.
    Dianna Russini, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trick. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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