1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
a tricky musical passage for the woodwind section
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
he's a tricky one, so be careful when dealing with him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tricky
The tricky part is that a low running cost won't necessarily save you money in the long run.
—
PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
The superstar singer even said that, after splitting from filmmaker Guy Ritchie in 2008, the pair were caught in a tricky custody battle when their son, Rocco, turned 16 in 2016.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Scooby-Doo can be a tricky franchise for a theme park attraction.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Finding one that doesn’t leave hair crunchy or weighed down, however, can be tricky.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tricky
PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
The superstar singer even said that, after splitting from filmmaker Guy Ritchie in 2008, the pair were caught in a tricky custody battle when their son, Rocco, turned 16 in 2016.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Scooby-Doo can be a tricky franchise for a theme park attraction.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Finding one that doesn’t leave hair crunchy or weighed down, however, can be tricky.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tricky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricky
Adjective
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For once, the bulk of the anger was directed not at Fosun — the investment group and majority shareholder – and the Molineux hierarchy who have conspired to deal Pereira a difficult hand, but at the head coach himself and his players.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Romancelandia’s social world, harnessed by its business-minded authors, may make its success exceedingly difficult to replicate.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Maigret must outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals, while dealing with his own troubled past.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
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These subsidies were cunning, part of a decades-long effort to keep alive the myths that offshore wind energy is nearly self-sufficient and generates increasingly inexpensive electricity.—
Craig Rucker,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Lammens was perhaps fortunate to escape sanction then (Stuart Atwell booked the forward for diving), but this was a valuable occasion ahead of tougher tests, beginning at Anfield.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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There will be some tough picking in there, but typically the predicting business gets a little easier in region play.—
Tyler Palmateer,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The brand’s Deep Trance Corduroy Pants are also a cute option to wear with some boots and a pea or trench coat this season.—
Shawna Hudson,
StyleCaster,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Best Toy for Imaginative Play Plant the seeds of creative play with this trio of plush toy veggies that are too cute to eat.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Options may include topical corticosteroids or nonsteroidal immunomodulators, which are often used on sensitive areas or for long-term control.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Made without parabens, soaps or alcohols, the hypoallergenic wipes are great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a subtler interpretation of the trend, the Jazz bookshelf is handcrafted in oak that takes on a golden hue when hit with the right light.—
Rachel Gallaher,
Robb Report,
4 Oct. 2025
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Cohen and other researchers have identified many subtle fixes that improve kids’ eating habits.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But it’s proved to be especially problematic at a time when the typical student body is growing academically weaker.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
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No two players better personified Houston’s problematic response to injuries than Alvarez and center fielder Jake Meyers, who injured himself on July 9 while running out to his position before first pitch.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Specifically, the four customers argued that Hershey's violated Florida Deceptive And Unfair Trade Practices Act, which is designed to protect Floridians from unfair competition, deceptive acts and unethical practices.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, users have increasingly been taking to court to challenge allegedly deceptive practices by Amazon.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tricky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricky. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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