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
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Recent Examples of tricks
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
One of my best tricks of the trade?
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Here are five design tricks at the heart of A Place to Be’s light and expansive renovation.
—Giada Storelli, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026
As the day wears on, look for horse trading, threats and some old-fashioned political tricks as lawmakers try to push their bills across before the end of business Friday.
—AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
This gorgeous girl is also extremely smart and knows tricks, is crate trained and a professional on the leash.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 6 Mar. 2026
The dog, whose name was Buckshot, continued a tradition that started in the late 1970s, where the dog performed tricks at MSU events.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The 100% tactical success turned more on James Bond tricks than Tom Clancy technology.
—Robert A. Pape, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
The movement is largely conventional (lots of traditional ballet tricks for the men), but there is also a distinctive twisting, a wind-up torquing through the spine and torso, which the dancers ingeniously unravel.
—Jennifer Homans, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
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
So Hero, sadly, poor thing was subjected to his uncle’s terrible bad dad tricks.
—Max Gao, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026
Wasps are territorial, so hanging a fake nest near a problem area tricks them into thinking another colony has already claimed the space.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
One of the dangers of the Midwestern climate is a late-winter warm spell that thaws the soil and tricks bulbs and other plants into sprouting too early.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
This tricks incoming missiles into targeting the decoy instead of the actual jet.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
The dark color of the dress also tricks the eye into seeing a longer, cleaner look.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2025
Noun
Other royals allegedly have their own tricks—like Princess Kate, who’s said to use a clutch bag to avoid endless handshakes.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
One of my best tricks of the trade?
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Here are five design tricks at the heart of A Place to Be’s light and expansive renovation.
—Giada Storelli, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026
As the day wears on, look for horse trading, threats and some old-fashioned political tricks as lawmakers try to push their bills across before the end of business Friday.
—AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
This gorgeous girl is also extremely smart and knows tricks, is crate trained and a professional on the leash.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 6 Mar. 2026
The dog, whose name was Buckshot, continued a tradition that started in the late 1970s, where the dog performed tricks at MSU events.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The 100% tactical success turned more on James Bond tricks than Tom Clancy technology.
—Robert A. Pape, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
The movement is largely conventional (lots of traditional ballet tricks for the men), but there is also a distinctive twisting, a wind-up torquing through the spine and torso, which the dancers ingeniously unravel.
—Jennifer Homans, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
So Hero, sadly, poor thing was subjected to his uncle’s terrible bad dad tricks.
—Max Gao, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026
Wasps are territorial, so hanging a fake nest near a problem area tricks them into thinking another colony has already claimed the space.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
One of the dangers of the Midwestern climate is a late-winter warm spell that thaws the soil and tricks bulbs and other plants into sprouting too early.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
This tricks incoming missiles into targeting the decoy instead of the actual jet.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
The dark color of the dress also tricks the eye into seeing a longer, cleaner look.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricks
Noun
-
The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The day before Hughes’ death, the Hall County school system posted a message urging students to refrain from any prom-season pranks resulting in property damage or destruction.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The small rituals of a concert crowd make a show feel shared.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Based on the true legend of the founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers, the film traces the life of Lee, who after losing four children in infancy, became celibate and created a religious movement based in music and dayslong dance rituals.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Expressing confidence in their ability to achieve similar feats (or even better ones) in the future will motivate them to keep reaching for the stars.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But his newest project, Netflix’s War Machine from filmmaker Patrick Hughes, demanded new feats of physicality that nearly broke him.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Other traits or environments were not considered when measuring morbidity.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Garcia presents some attractive traits.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
New Jersey this year passed a law requiring licenses, registration and insurance for the devices following an uptick in e-bike deaths.—
Alissa Gary,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
When terror suspects’ names appear in headlines — particularly when fireworks or homemade devices are mentioned — Weimer said the response inside Phantom Fireworks is almost automatic.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Curiously, the antidepressant effect emerged after the mind-altering experiences and persisted for more than a week, suggesting that ketamine might be doing more than making the patients trip.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities might look like children’s museums or other interactive and tactile learning experiences—think The Sloomoo Institute or the touch tank at your local aquarium.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tricks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricks. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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