ruse

ruse
noun
;r;s  ;r;z
Synonyms of ruse

der Kniff

: a wily subterfuge

Choose the Right Synonym for ruse

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint 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
ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers
stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game
maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy
artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage
wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself
feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank
Examples of ruse in a Sentence
His act was just a clever ruse to get me to go out with him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is a shameful ruse by Christian nationalists in Texas who see the schools as a mission field.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2024
One common ruse: Posing as a recruiter online, the scammer dupes their victim into sending money or sharing personal info.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024
The reveal that the Road was a ruse all along also paints the many deaths that occurred during the adventure in a more horrific light—all of them were meaningless, essentially chalked down to more of Agatha’s murders.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Scammers continue to move the goalposts with different ruses and techniques, and AI is figuring more prominently.
—Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024