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
Jimin Han’s graceful novel reimagines the legend of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s version of Romeo and Juliet, as 30-year-old Dahee seeks to protect her cousin Channing from the wiles of a Korean American community in New England.
—
Hamilton Cain,
Time,
4 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
Jimin Han’s graceful novel reimagines the legend of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s version of Romeo and Juliet, as 30-year-old Dahee seeks to protect her cousin Channing from the wiles of a Korean American community in New England.
—
Hamilton Cain,
Time,
4 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
-
They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.
-
Kids will quickly see through her ruses.
Verb
-
In the present, Eddie, a book editor, charms everyone in Daphne’s circle, including her mom, who divorced him decades earlier.
-
While hiding behind humor, fantasy and music, Doody charms his girlfriend, Frenchy, with his silly jokes and innocence.
Noun
-
Federal authorities on Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants in a series of healthcare fraud schemes, including one case involving nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and another that allegedly defrauded Medicare out of approximately $27 million.
-
As contemporary home designs fade the visual bounds between interior and exterior, design pros are calling on lighting designers to illuminate their clients’ landscapes, with schemes that provide everything from safety to spectacle.
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
-
Say yes to learning that delights your spirit.
Noun
-
At one point, Jessie befriends a gang of tech toys that includes a low-tech potty-training product named Smarty Pants, along with GPS and camera devices Atlas and Snappy.
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The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
Verb
-
There is something magical about a firefly that fascinates young and old alike.
-
There is something about the play Harvey that fascinates me, especially for right now.
Noun
-
Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
-
Vinícius Júnior’s extensive and varied skill set includes blinding speed, dazzling dribbling tricks, and the ability to effortlessly slip past defenders.
Verb
-
Focus on how your team members can learn and grow, and discuss with them what interests them.
-
That coexistence interests me more than any single genre.
Cite this Entry
“Wiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiles. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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