Synonyms of wiles

wiles 1 of 2

noun

plural of wile

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

• ruses
• schemes
• devices
• tricks
• stratagems
• artifices
• ploys
• gambits
• shenanigans
• sleights
• dodges
• jigs
• knacks
• deceptions
• sleights of hand
• plays
• bluffs
• gimmicks
• trickeries
• juggles
• subterfuges
• fetches
• feints
• flimflams
• cunnings
• duplicities
• chicaneries
• end runs
• hoaxes
• swindles
• crafts
• frauds
• juggleries
• cozenages
• legerdemains
• duperies
• fakeries
• gaffs
• blinds
• skulduggeries
• crookeries
• smoke screens
• fronts
• shams

wiles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wile

as in charms

to attract or delight as if by magic

her stories of the Old South could wile anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• charms
• delights
• fascinates
• interests
• seduces
• entices
• lures
• intrigues
• enchants
• pleases
• beguiles
• tempts
• allures
• witches
• captivates
• bewitches
• kills
• draws
• magnetizes
• woos
• pulls
• disarms
• appeals (to)
• gratifies
• entrances
• arrests
• beckons
• invites
• courts
• enraptures
• enthralls
• solicits

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repels
• offends
• disgusts
• annoys
• displeases
• bores
• revolts
• tires
• wearies
• irks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wiles

Noun

Penelope is Odysseus’ equal, in cunning, in stubbornness, in wiles. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

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