feint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of feintnext
as in bluff
sports a quick movement that you make to trick an opponent The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

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feint

2 of 2

verb

as in to bluff

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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," 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 artifice take the place of feint?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When might maneuver be a better fit than feint?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace feint?

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of feint?

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

the stratagem-filled game

When can trick be used instead of feint?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Where would wile be a reasonable alternative to feint?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 feint
Noun
This turns out to be mostly just a feint at divisiveness. —Barry Levitt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 Starting a robotaxi service is not for the feint of heart or small of wallet. —Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
His final putt on the 72nd hole of the Houston Open was a mere eight inches, yet Lee feinted to use AimPoint to line up his shot. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 The reveal that precocious little Maisie Lockwood is actually a clone gives a human face to the vague ethical quandary Fallen Kingdom feints at. —James Grebey, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint
  1. bluff
  2. disguise
  3. maneuver
  4. conceal
  5. camouflage
  6. mask
  7. feign
Noun
  • And by laying out his next big bet, Musk is essentially daring every other big tech company to call his bluff.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The land was a former family vineyard and cherry tree orchard -- an elevated site draped along a bend of high ridges and exposed bluffs that fall toward the water.
    — Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Definition of bluff
Verb
  • What remains is a tool of self-discipline, disguised as self-help.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Political partisans tend to behave in a partisan way—even if that partisanship is disguised as apolitical, Christian living.
    — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of disguise
Noun
  • Throughout the airborne maneuver, the robot remains controlled, absorbing impact on landing rather than collapsing, reports Techeblog.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
  • In 1976, Terry Kubicka became the first skater to execute the maneuver at the Olympics (held that year in Innsbruck, Austria).
    — Caroline Tien, SELF, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of maneuver
Verb
  • To be sure, stable average prices can conceal the reality that some patients face higher expenses while others see lower costs.
    — Chris Pope, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Plaintiffs also accuse the companies of failing to warn users about the risks of using their products and of deliberately concealing their dangers.
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • The finish is like a veil with a light-reflecting brightness that does wonders at camouflaging darkness and discoloration.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The tower is designed to resemble a tree in an effort to camouflage the antennas and reduce its visual impact.
    — Conor McGill, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of camouflage
Verb
  • Ted Rossman, a principal analyst at Bankrate, said this spending by higher-income households is masking cutbacks that are happening further down the income ladder.
    — Allie Canal, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
  • By the time the music stopped, Malinin was left trying to mask the sorrow for a crowd that included Nathan Chen, the 2022 Olympic champion; seven-time Olympic gold medal gymnast Simone Biles, and actor Jeff Goldblum and his wife, Emilie.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of mask
Verb
  • Those of us who would love to have agents and publishing houses dictating our next books feigned sympathy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Akhparian asked while patting himself down and feigning to be in search of a weapon.
    — Linh Tat, Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of feign

Browse Nearby Words

feigns
feint
feinted
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Cite this Entry

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on feint

Nglish: Translation of feint for Spanish Speakers

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