as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in charms
to attract or delight as if by magic
her stories of the Old South could wile anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wiles
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
A’zion, as the protagonist’s married lover, who can match his manipulative wiles beat for beat, conveys an exciting, bittersweet sense of the wheels turning beneath deceptive surfaces.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Determined to find their way back to their humans, the wise Shadow, the sarcastic Sassy, and the impulsive Chance attempt to navigate their way home using only their wiles and each other.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
That Hedda has forged such a life for herself is a testament to her wiles — no one is more adept at delivering acidic barbs cloaked by a friendly hand on the shoulder.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
Seeing Laura’s discomfort with her, Cherry employs her feminine wiles to cause a fracture in Laura and Daniel’s connection.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
The format has an all-powerful ‘Taskmaster’ who, with the help of a loyal assistant, tests the wiles of a panel of comedians over the course of each series by setting them weird and wonderful challenges.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
A’zion, as the protagonist’s married lover, who can match his manipulative wiles beat for beat, conveys an exciting, bittersweet sense of the wheels turning beneath deceptive surfaces.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Determined to find their way back to their humans, the wise Shadow, the sarcastic Sassy, and the impulsive Chance attempt to navigate their way home using only their wiles and each other.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
That Hedda has forged such a life for herself is a testament to her wiles — no one is more adept at delivering acidic barbs cloaked by a friendly hand on the shoulder.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
Seeing Laura’s discomfort with her, Cherry employs her feminine wiles to cause a fracture in Laura and Daniel’s connection.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wiles
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
-
One part of the show that didn’t align with this viewpoint was the casting of Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a traveling performer from Dorne who charms Dunk, and some on social media have griped about the actress being in the show.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Mar. 2026
-
As Sophie Baek, the Cinderella-style housemaid of illegitimate birth who charms the latest eligible Bridgerton bachelor, Ha is exquisite.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Payne hopes to have similar production in the fall, especially with TCU incorporating more outside zone run schemes.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
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Socialists like to spend money — lots of other people’s money, of course — and Mamdani has been hampered by the fiscal stewards of Albany who, thankfully for New York City, aren’t likely to allow his more egregious schemes that would only drive away more of the city’s crucial affluent class.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Sweet woodruff also delights the senses with fragrant, white spring flowers opening in loose bundles above whorls of glossy green foliage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the start of the year, China removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on contraceptive drugs and devices.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
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The suit alleged City Creek failed to reposition her every two hours in bed or her wheelchair, which is the clinical standard for people at risk of bedsores, and to promptly order devices to protect her skin.—
Jordan Rau,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is your chance to pursue whatever subject most fascinates you.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The cause of brain freeze fascinates neurologists and Slurpee lovers alike, and the science behind it is especially captivating.—
Julia Daye,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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From fusion tapas restaurants to a minor league baseball team, Dunedin has plenty of delightful tricks up its sleeve.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
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On a recent thread on the r/GLP1microdosing subreddit, women shared their tips and tricks for hiding medication from their partners.—
Rebecca Flint Marx,
SELF,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If that interests you, read on.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
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And along with gender and empowerment, there’s also something about having bright colors and a lot of grief on stage that interests me.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiles. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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