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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tricksy
The structure is a bit tricksier, flipping between the present — which finds our two inevitable lovers estranged and in their early thirties — and a staggered series of flashbacks catching up to it.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
Adjective
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The most difficult piece of the puzzle?—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But studying those relationships is difficult, due to the challenges in actually observing social interactions in the shark world.—
BRADY DENNIS THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Parkes and editor Lilly Wild imbue the proceedings with an emotional volatility, as composer Oliver Lewin’s mischievous music dances across your skin.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
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Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Middle linebacker is one of the toughest positions to play in today’s game, but Smith has the mental makeup to run the front of this defense.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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The Senate map will likely get tougher for Democrats in future elections.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Datebook Picks The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
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Like Becky Sharp, the willful, wicked lead of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, Heidi rolled her eyes at her dutiful counterpart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Any one of those facts should have triggered harder questions about putting sensitive law enforcement data on Microsoft’s cloud.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
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Aestura’s Atobarrier365 Cream aims to help dry, sensitive skin find that same kind of balance.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Its rooms are layered with classical references, playful objets and a rich colour palette.—
Vicki Power,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
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The family is now left with memories of Barbara's smile and her famous tamales, and Aron's playful antics and artwork.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Managing reputational risk is a complicated (and constant) obligation.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
21 Mar. 2026
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Pegula hit five aces and never let the match settle into anything complicated.—
Noah Gulley,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That's especially problematic for the often underage victims of this abuse – 90% of which are women – as studies show these deepfake nude images can have wide-ranging and long-lasting consequences.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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OpenAI cautioned investors that ongoing litigation could be problematic due to copyright, patent and other intellectual property issues, along with employment and contract disputes, privacy concerns and other matters.—
Lora Kolodny,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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