1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
it's a bit tricksy to have a candid conversation with the company president without appearing to be either presumptuous or obsequious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a tricksy provocateur who will make the most outrageous statements just to get a reaction
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 tricksy
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—
The Economist, 18 June 2020
The Economist, 18 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
Adjective
-
No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
-
Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Lois, no longer a promiscuous drag king, remains mischievous and irrepressible, even while getting pilloried on Fox News for leading a school workshop on gender identity.—
Charlie Tyson,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
-
Each day in the world of Phineas and Ferb is filled with a fantastical invention or creation—and their big sister Candace (Ashley Tisdale) is still perpetually annoyed by their mischievous antics, and on a mission to expose their exploits to their mom, Linda Flynn-Fletcher.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2025
-
Their final test is the toughest in a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers, the same team that just last year took them to seven games in the Stanley Cup Final before the Panthers ultimately prevailed.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Robertson has a wicked release and high work rate, scoring 29 goals across the past two seasons despite seeing limited power-play time. 13.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
Silo is a wicked and bingeable slow burn with a tantalizing central mystery.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
This principle, applied across all workloads, is instrumental for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.—
Ben Blanquera,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Amino acids are more easily absorbed than proteins and do not damage the intestinal environment, which means even those with sensitive digestions can take them.—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Working with other young rappers—peers, not big brothers—yielded a looser, more playful Wayne who got to test his dexterity over popular instrumentals of the early aughts.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
-
The brown leather exterior means it can be dressed up with office clothes while its size and woven design are playful enough to work with casual looks like Birkenstocks, a tee, and loose jeans.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, however, there have been new revelations in their complicated family dynamics.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
-
But every one of those steps was much more complicated for abelian surfaces.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The comment was in answer to how Friends, in its second resurgence in the streaming era, was receiving some criticism for some of its problematic elements, i.e. the lack of diversity, homophobia, sexism, etc.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
Some lawns are just too big for a bot to handle, and even smaller lawns present more problematic terrain than a carpeted floor.—
John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share