tricksy

adjective

ˈtrik-sē How to pronounce tricksy (audio)
Definition of tricksynext
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

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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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
  1. difficult
  2. mischievous
  3. tough
  4. wicked
  5. sensitive
  6. playful
  7. complicated
  8. problematic
Adjective
  • Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Advertisement Best of all is Deutch’s Gail, whose sunbeam demeanor barely conceals her flirty, mischievous side.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • The actress, 64, made her mark on the iconic ‘70s show as Nellie Oleson, Laura Ingalls’ mischievous classmate.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
Definition of mischievous
Adjective
  • The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Soon a wicked stepmother named Elvera and her brood came into the Jones family’s life.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of wicked
Adjective
  • The autonomous coding tool can send sensitive information to a remote server without a user’s consent, the statement said in Chinese, according to a CNBC translation.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the possible crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The bar program is playful, colorful and communal — expect to see a little something for everyone.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • The playful exchange is the latest glimpse into the couple's famously candid relationship.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of playful
Adjective
  • Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The study authors caution that the model should be applied carefully to more complicated perovskites in which structural changes and dielectric effects occur simultaneously.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • Note that film-rating site Rotten Tomatoes was part of NBCUniversal for years, and some critics have slammed that ownership structure as being problematic.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 July 2026
  • Manufacturers continue to refine the technology, but many of the refrigerants remain problematic.
    — Sabrina Weiss, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of problematic

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tricksters
tricksy
tricky
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Cite this Entry

“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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