TRICKS Synonyms: 247 Similar and Opposite Words

tricks 1 of 2

noun

plural of trick

as in ruses

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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as in pranks

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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as in rituals

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 feats

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 traits

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

conformities

tricks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trick

as in fools

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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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 tricks

Noun

There’s an almost comically blasé way in which the performers — who are used to such spectacles — go about their work an hour before thousands of audience members will gasp and clap at the same tricks. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 But when there isn’t a live event, the venue has been developing a slate of original programming that can run all day and night, with a few 4D tricks up its sleeve too. — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 This doesn’t necessarily mean employing a bigger LED screen and more musicians, but instead crafting a visual narrative that favors maximising lighting tricks and the architectural effects of the stage build. — Thomas Smith, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2026 But as always, the tiny mouse has a few tricks up his sleeve for the comparatively sizable cat. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 Champions League hat-tricks, 25-yarders and nutmegs — some debuts are the stuff of dreams. — Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Boston Dynamics was once best known for its viral videos of robots doing cool tricks, but that space has been taken over by Chinese humanoids and their flashy dance moves. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026 This is a book in which the tricks, takeaways and techniques are embedded in the recipes themselves. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 9 Sep. 2026 Southern Living consulted Chef Katie Button, co-founder of Asheville, North Carolina restaurant Cúrate for her top tips and tricks for working with flank steak. — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

Short crown layers build lift and help create volume, which tricks the eye into seeing more density overall, and face-framing pieces create visual fullness around the face. — Marci Robin, Allure, 11 Aug. 2026 Lord Ormund’s Gambit Lord Ormund has many, many tricks up his green sleeves. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 In effect, RedHook tricks the phone into connecting to its own powerful debugging controls, giving the malware deeper access without a computer. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026 Exterior walls, similarly, may be warmer than an interior wall, which tricks the thermostat and causes the AC to run longer than necessary. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 15 July 2026 Cthulhu, who tricks the Minions into releasing his friends from purgatory. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 2026 Removing fading flowers and their seed pods tricks the plant to redirect its energy from producing seeds to producing more scapes and flower buds, as well as putting energy into root development and storing energy for the next growing season. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 June 2026 Well, at least Cindy's been fighting the good fight, which Brenda tricks her into waging alone every time. — Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026 One possible danger is a rogue network that tricks people into joining. — ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricks

Noun

There’s a delightful secret history of Hollywood directors whose ruses and stratagems bought them an unusual amount of leeway with their scripts.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Even before pro-party AI ruses were possible, the Chinese government and its supporters flooded social media with pro-China propaganda and vicious attacks on critics.

— Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of ruses

Noun

That was also when many of the brand’s signature aesthetics — the black-and-white [as] logo, bumps and interstitials that break the fourth wall, and legendary April Fool’s Day pranks — began to take shape.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
After the film’s theatrical release on June 26, the decades-long saga of pranks and tomfoolery is finally coming to an end.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of pranks

Noun

Yet entrenched misogyny and debates over gender equality within the religion have persisted, particularly over women’s access to temples andcertain rituals.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
College football Saturdays run on repetition, with the same soundtrack, symbols and rituals repeated so faithfully that generations of fans know the cues.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of rituals

Noun

Circus veterans and musical-theater pros merge skills onstage, with performers learning trapeze, aerial work and puppetry under collaborative leaders who emphasize one unified troupe — and absolute trust during death-defying feats.

— Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Conrad and Gordon performed eight different science experiments, but perhaps one of their most striking feats was the artificial gravity demonstration.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of feats

Noun

His ability to square the ball up and not chase out of the strike zone are probably his best traits.

— Jim Bowden, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The offense showed a lot of good traits in a small sample size, but still has strides to make as the Tigers open up the playbook.

— PJ Green September 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of traits

Noun

Based on the novel by Daniel Pinkwater, Lizard Music follows a boy (Leber) left to his own devices who stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music — a hidden door to the extraordinary then swinging open.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
Anyone using their phone during the set will be escorted out of the venue, and if needed, devices can be unlocked and used in special areas of each venue.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of devices

Noun

The audience, aware of Fauci’s experiences to come in the covid era, arrives with its own baggage.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
In the classroom, social and emotional learning is embedded into the day‘s lessons, staff have been trained on helping students exposed to traumatic experiences, and counseling services are available.

— Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026