trick 1 of 3

noun

ˈtrik How to pronounce trick (audio)
Definition of tricknext
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

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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

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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

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4
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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5
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

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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

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

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
That is the truest of styling tricks for the internet. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026 The trick has been learning how to use the moments she’s treated differently as opportunities. —Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
On February 10, the Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to try to trick voters into passing another increase in the sales tax, after it was raised less than two years ago. —Susan Shelley, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026 The people staffing the scam centers might have been tricked by a false job ad. —Susan Tompor, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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 See All Example Sentences for trick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trick
  1. ruse
  2. prank
  3. ritual
  4. feat
  5. trait
  6. deceive
  7. tricky
  8. scheme
Noun
  • Earlier, police had suggested the pregnancy might have been a ruse to ensure she was sent home.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
  • While the ruse was going, Schreiner lashed out at anyone who was skeptical.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of ruse
Noun
  • In the novel, Amanda and Oliver attempt to get Eloise to leave by way of some nasty pranks, but Book Eloise remains undeterred and, in fact, loves the challenge of trying to both one-up and win over the twins.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Fashion audiences have been skeptical or even suspicious of his work, accusing Demna of designing these enormous sneakers and blobby silhouettes to play some kind of prank on rich people delusional enough to buy the stuff.
    — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of prank
Noun
  • Culture is key at A&M, where there are a number of student rituals around the football team and Kyle Field houses some of the largest crowds in the country.
    — Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
  • On February 25, 1995, NBC telecast the inaugural presentation of what would become an annual ritual, the conferral of awards by the Screen Actors Guild, with the honorees from both the film and television screens chosen by the group’s 77,615 members.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of ritual
Noun
  • Abbott, whose campaign has reportedly raised a hundred and six million dollars, is seeking a fourth term, a feat that would be unprecedented in the state’s history.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Zip's Cafe celebrates 100 years of business this year − a rare feat for restaurateurs, especially nowadays.
    — Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2026
Definition of feat
Noun
  • And Paton has a near-photographic memory, friend and former Broncos quarterback Matt Mauck said, to recall specific traits and medical history from most any player in any draft class.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Hybrid fruit trees are created by cross-pollinating two different types of fruit trees to produce a new variety that combines traits from each parent tree.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of trait
Verb
  • After the remaining contestants voted out Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski and Eric Nam, Higgins was blindsided to discover her close ally, Rob Rausch, was deceiving her all along.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • In addition, the complaint alleges that Walmart deceived customers by falsely claiming that 100% of customer tips would go to drivers.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of deceive
Adjective
  • Expressly partisan redistricting could be tricky in Florida, where voters approved an anti-gerrymandering amendment in 2010.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The buzz around the awards eased its potentially tricky transition to Manchester, with the industry turning out in force.
    — Mark Sutherland, Variety, 1 Mar. 2026
Definition of tricky
Noun
  • Through these backdoor billing schemes, bad actors can bypass the screening process designed to prevent them from collecting reimbursements directly.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The indictment alleges that false and fraudulent records were provided as part of the scheme, and that none of the money was used for the intended purpose.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of scheme

Phrases Containing trick

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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on trick

Nglish: Translation of trick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trick

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