1
as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings
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2
as in magician
one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment
a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trickster
Tasked with solving Jareth’s labyrinth to secure Toby’s safety, Sarah races against time to defeat the goblin’s trickster army.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
This is not to suggest that Matsura was Coyote personified; rather, that Matsura’s persona and perspective manifested trickster qualities inscribed in and expressed through his photography.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
And the trickster god Elegba, Orisha of the crossroads, stands between them, a wily ex-con buddy of Oshoosi’s — not bad, not good, a Mephistophelean drifter who secretly longs for the fraternal intimacy that is his friend’s by birthright.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
This colorful tale blends fantasy with reality as Miguel heads to a magical land to confront Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) with the help of a new friend and trickster named Héctor (Gael García Bernal).
—Sydni Ellis, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickster
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
This is not to suggest that Matsura was Coyote personified; rather, that Matsura’s persona and perspective manifested trickster qualities inscribed in and expressed through his photography.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
And the trickster god Elegba, Orisha of the crossroads, stands between them, a wily ex-con buddy of Oshoosi’s — not bad, not good, a Mephistophelean drifter who secretly longs for the fraternal intimacy that is his friend’s by birthright.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
This colorful tale blends fantasy with reality as Miguel heads to a magical land to confront Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) with the help of a new friend and trickster named Héctor (Gael García Bernal).
—Sydni Ellis, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trickster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trickster
Noun
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Her character also has a fake handicapped license plate and cheats at golf.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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No one cheats like college football.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After all, the film series follows a group of street magicians — played by Eisenberg, Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco — who famously use tricks to steal from the wealthy.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Miles the magician Since her arrival in Fort Worth, Miles has brought the same flair and showmanship on the court that helped make her one of the biggest names in college basketball.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These changes will also usher in a shift in the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles customs and tariff enforcement, with both the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) laser focused on duty dodgers.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 July 2025
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Blue Jays Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak Read more Los angeles dodgers Sandy Alcántara Trade?—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Noun
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Ripa kept it fun and simple with a brightly colored pink shark costume to bring the viral children's tune to life with a fun twist.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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And while catch and release has become popular with plenty of species from bonefish, tarpon, and permit to smallmouth bass, walleye, and even sharks, few species dominate the catch-and-release culture quite like trout.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trickster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trickster. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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