1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
used the artifice of saying his grandmother had died so that he could get the last seat on the plane
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2
as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
using their artifice, the Greeks crafted a hollow wooden horse to hide inside and thereby gained entry into the city of Troy
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3
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
a painting that could only have been created with the artifice of a master
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4
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a crook who is a master of artifice and manipulation
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5
as in treachery
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
he's willing to resort to artifice to get himself out of this jam
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of artifice
The film calls attention to the artifice of—and the punishing effort behind—Romy’s attempts to self-optimize, which range from Botox injections to E.M.D.R. therapy.
—
Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Of course, there are occasionally more glaring clues to the artifice, as when the AI model fails to replicate the Oreo logo.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2024
The film stars Naomi Watts as an aspiring actress and Laura Harring as an amnesiac who are both swept into a labyrinth of artifice, violence, mystery, and betrayal.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
There was a great sense of artifice because of the sense of magic that her character adopts.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for artifice
Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Of course, there are occasionally more glaring clues to the artifice, as when the AI model fails to replicate the Oreo logo.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2024
The film stars Naomi Watts as an aspiring actress and Laura Harring as an amnesiac who are both swept into a labyrinth of artifice, violence, mystery, and betrayal.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
There was a great sense of artifice because of the sense of magic that her character adopts.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for artifice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artifice
Noun
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The idea of doctors posing as podcasters to make men more suggestible is already a winner, but the language the doctors employ to complete the ruse ratchets up the comedy.—
Joe Berkowitz,
Vulture,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Is this to maintain the ruse of amateurism to go along with the players’ professed allegiance to and love of this particular university, however temporary?—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For Mirren, the cunning and cruelty of Whitfield is a timely example of power corrupting absolutely.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Gilded by privilege and cunning, Glinda is a popular young woman who desires to wield magic.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This work ripples far beyond the therapy room, equipping clients with the skills to handle the messiness of real relationships in their day-to-day lives.—
Maytal Eyal,
TIME,
25 Feb. 2025
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As for the love story at the heart of things, real-life singer-songwriters Koerner and Varga, both making their movie debuts, inhabit their roles with unpolished sincerity, if not technical skill.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Tacopina recently appeared on The Breakfast Club to break down key elements of the defense’s strategy in proving Rocky’s innocence, and the plaintiff’s, A$AP Relli, lies and deception.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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Today the art world is reeling over not just her deception, but also the stain Ms. Schiff has left on the largely unregulated business of art advising.—
Sarah Maslin Nir,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Witness was his 1952 manifesto on fellow-traveling American liberals and their treachery, which emboldened the Soviet Union.—
Michael Kimmage,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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The songs typically crop up in the final act of an episode as the tensions (and treacheries) mount.—
Mark Peikert,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The 22-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury came after a yearslong federal investigation and alleged Madigan participated in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 aimed at using the power of his office for personal gain.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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On Friday, Reardon tossed the case against Mario Juarez, the longtime political operative and twice-failed Oakland City Council candidate who claimed to have been the target of an extortion scheme by Price.—
Jakob Rodgers,
The Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The exposé marked the beginning of the end for Theranos, as multiple whistleblowers came forward with claims of secrets and deceit.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
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Determined to uncover the truth, Min-tae embarks on a relentless pursuit, navigating a web of deceit involving his former crime syndicate and the police.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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With a bit of guidance, navigating between the classic go-to’s and the newer dining options are scattered throughout the properties can lead to incredible culinary discoveries, plenty of popping champagne bottles and even a dash of historical subterfuge.—
Alissa Fitzgerald,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
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This sequence introduces The Agency as a maze of contradictory nationalist motivations, paranoia-inducing surveillance, and prevalent subterfuge — and, in its hidden center, a love story.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artifice. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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