1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in feats
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness
it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in traits
an odd or peculiar habit
a dog with the trick of eating cabbage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fools
to cause to believe what is untrue
you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
That makes many older attack tricks harder to pull off.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
On Feeble Little Horse’s third album—and first without founding member Ryan Walchonski—the Pittsburgh trio uses production tricks left over from Sebastian Kinsler’s time making beats and singer Lydia Slocum’s voice to wind sharp critiques of big tech around crunchy indie rock.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Everyone wants to know celebrity beauty secrets, and the most coveted of all would be Marilyn Monroe’s tricks.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Features Available Now, Features (Hopefully) Coming Soon While similar, the ModRetro 64 has a few tricks up its sleeve that differentiate it from the Analogue 3D right out of the box.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Ahead, three experts share their best tricks for hosting in a small space and throwing an event that's fun and effortless.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Read on for tips and tricks for cleaning wicker.
—Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026
Djarin is a bounty hunter at the top of his game, making full use of his Mandalorian box of tricks.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 25 May 2026
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
During the final moments of the finale, Jimmy is seen sitting down for breakfast with Sofi after Paul (Harrison Ford) tricks him into meeting one last time.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
The Pitt sometimes tricks us about a character by giving us one perspective on them for a long time before revealing something totally different.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Oppo has some additional fun software tricks up its sleeve.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
Specific to the Celimax formula, the Vita A Retinal Shot contains matrixyl 3000, an anti-aging peptide, that tricks your skin to produce more collagen, leading to firmer, tighter looking skin.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeing up floor space by mounting items on walls or using floating furniture tricks the eye into seeing a larger room.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026
Based on the real-life heroine’s memoir from a few years earlier, the movie centered on an Iranian man who tricks his American wife into going to the country and traps her there, using their child as a hostage.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
In the middle, a Cartman in the role of a Midtown tax adviser dispenses accounting tips and tricks, culled from a YouTube account run by a real-life New York CPA.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 2 June 2026
That makes many older attack tricks harder to pull off.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
On Feeble Little Horse’s third album—and first without founding member Ryan Walchonski—the Pittsburgh trio uses production tricks left over from Sebastian Kinsler’s time making beats and singer Lydia Slocum’s voice to wind sharp critiques of big tech around crunchy indie rock.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Everyone wants to know celebrity beauty secrets, and the most coveted of all would be Marilyn Monroe’s tricks.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Features Available Now, Features (Hopefully) Coming Soon While similar, the ModRetro 64 has a few tricks up its sleeve that differentiate it from the Analogue 3D right out of the box.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Ahead, three experts share their best tricks for hosting in a small space and throwing an event that's fun and effortless.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Read on for tips and tricks for cleaning wicker.
—Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026
Djarin is a bounty hunter at the top of his game, making full use of his Mandalorian box of tricks.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 25 May 2026
Verb
One possible danger is a rogue network that tricks people into joining.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
During the final moments of the finale, Jimmy is seen sitting down for breakfast with Sofi after Paul (Harrison Ford) tricks him into meeting one last time.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
The Pitt sometimes tricks us about a character by giving us one perspective on them for a long time before revealing something totally different.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Oppo has some additional fun software tricks up its sleeve.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
Specific to the Celimax formula, the Vita A Retinal Shot contains matrixyl 3000, an anti-aging peptide, that tricks your skin to produce more collagen, leading to firmer, tighter looking skin.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeing up floor space by mounting items on walls or using floating furniture tricks the eye into seeing a larger room.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026
Based on the real-life heroine’s memoir from a few years earlier, the movie centered on an Iranian man who tricks his American wife into going to the country and traps her there, using their child as a hostage.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricks
Noun
-
They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Kids will quickly see through her ruses.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Timberwolves were up 2-1 against their bitter rivals, and there was DiVincenzo, playing pranks and laughing devilishly.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Shortly after midnight on May 25, prosecutors said the same group of teens were driving around San Mateo pulling pranks on classmates from Hillsdale High School.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The spa The spa is small and intentional, with treatments focused on restoration rather than over-the-top rituals.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Performers in traditional dress portray Inca nobility, priests and warriors, and the rituals are conducted in Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire and still widely spoken in the Andes today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
One of the biggest feats, which Condal thinks is more intense than nearly anything ever attempted in the Game of Thrones universe, is the naval portion of the battle.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
-
The technical and business acumen of Henry Ford, the music of Richard Wagner, and the heroic feats of physical endurance by the likes of Charles Lindbergh all thrived alongside their anti-Jewish activism.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Most warm weather breeds share unique physical traits that keep them cool in high temperatures.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Barring Bowen, only Tomas Soucek has leadership traits.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Runway, Pika, and a dozen others can produce footage that fools the eye on first watch.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Looking for more travel-friendly tech devices for your journey?—
Aly Walansky,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
Nearby homes were evacuated during the investigation, and the bomb squad hauled out boxes of what were described as consumer-grade pyrotechnic devices, enough to fill more than three box trucks, according to investigators at the scene.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
As more travelers ditch tourist traps in favor of authentic experiences, craft markets have become one of the most rewarding ways to see the real side of a destination — and bring home a souvenir that actually means something.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The customer then lays down on the bed and first experiences a dry scalp massage and a massage of their neck and upper shoulders while settling in.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tricks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricks. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
