trick 1 of 3

noun

ˈtrik How to pronounce trick (audio)
Definition of tricknext
1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end her husband used every trick in the book to get out of appearing in his parish's fashion show

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2
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke thought that gluing the silver dollar to the floor and watching him struggle to pick it up would be a good trick

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3
as in ritual
a usual manner of behaving or doing that deadbeat is up to his usual tricks: once again he's claiming the check is in the mail

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4
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here

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5
as in trait
an odd or peculiar habit a dog with the trick of eating cabbage

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trick

2 of 3

verb

as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trick

3 of 3

adjective

as in tricky

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trick different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of trick are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When could artifice be used to replace trick?

Although the words artifice and trick have much in common, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for trick?

The words feint and trick can be used in similar contexts, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can maneuver take the place of trick?

While in some cases nearly identical to trick, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When can ruse be used instead of trick?

While the synonyms ruse and trick are close in meaning, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of trick?

In some situations, the words stratagem and trick are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is wile a more appropriate choice than trick?

The meanings of wile and trick largely overlap; however, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

How is the word trick different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of trick are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When could artifice be used to replace trick?

Although the words artifice and trick have much in common, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for trick?

The words feint and trick can be used in similar contexts, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can maneuver take the place of trick?

While in some cases nearly identical to trick, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When can ruse be used instead of trick?

While the synonyms ruse and trick are close in meaning, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of trick?

In some situations, the words stratagem and trick are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is wile a more appropriate choice than trick?

The meanings of wile and trick largely overlap; however, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

How is the word trick different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of trick are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When could artifice be used to replace trick?

Although the words artifice and trick have much in common, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for trick?

The words feint and trick can be used in similar contexts, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can maneuver take the place of trick?

While in some cases nearly identical to trick, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When can ruse be used instead of trick?

While the synonyms ruse and trick are close in meaning, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of trick?

In some situations, the words stratagem and trick are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is wile a more appropriate choice than trick?

The meanings of wile and trick largely overlap; however, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

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 trick
Noun
That is precisely the trick Audi has mastered. —Chris Jackson, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 Activities for all ages include painting rocks to decorate your pollinator gardens, crafts and education on monarch butterflies and a variety of yard care and repair tips and tricks for the adults out there. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Curved edges instead of boxy layouts trick the eye into seeing more room. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 In story after story, Hoja manages to mock and trick Timur and evade punishment through his wit. —Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
If the high cost of it all is more trick than treat for you, here are several ways to turn your already smart home into a spook-tacularly genius haunted house. —Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2021 And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 June 2021 See All Example Sentences for trick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trick
  1. ruse
  2. prank
  3. ritual
  4. feat
  5. trait
  6. deceive
  7. tricky
  8. scheme
Noun
  • Operation Mincemeat was such a successful ruse that even after the Allies’ arrival, German forces continued to leave the island for Greece or Sardinia, still certain that Sicily was just a diversion.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Ultimately, the report states, the video call was a ruse, falsely portraying the child as safe and in the care of a non-relative in California.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of ruse
Noun
  • No vicious prank call, either (thankfully).
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq thought one of the most important calls of his life was a prank call.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of prank
Noun
  • Former Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer entered the Bell Centre from that plaza holding a torch, walked it into the building and the arena bowl, setting off the Canadiens’ traditional playoff ritual of the ice catching fire, and the building roared.
    — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This year’s Kentucky Derby will be Buttleman’s 31st as the official bugler at Churchill Downs, and over the years, the musician has developed a pre-race ritual.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of ritual
Noun
  • The feat was the culmination of a shift—or, perhaps more aptly, a total disruption—in marathoning over the past few years, in which the eventual breaking of the mythical two-hour mark went from an impossibility to a guarantee.
    — Alex Hutchinson, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Mantle and Berra accomplished the feat in 1956.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of feat
Noun
  • Each has versatility and traits the Broncos like.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
  • That’s a combination the Chiefs have recently avoided — pass-rush traits built more on speed that length or power.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of trait
Verb
  • This intent to deceive constituents has been obvious since February.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Rashid deceived Padikkal with a perfect googly while Kohli dragged jason Holder’s slower ball onto his stumps.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of deceive
Adjective
  • While ground teams are tracking the birds, the search remains tricky because the eagles are flighted birds, the group said.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The tricky part is how the club’s younger players will respond to adversity.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of tricky
Noun
  • Depth chart impact Hunter has scheme versatility, but most analysts project him as a nose tackle, where Bobby Brown is the Panthers’ incumbent.
    — Tobias Bass, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of scheme

Phrases Containing trick

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trick. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trick

Nglish: Translation of trick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trick

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