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
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
Verb
The gimmicks are effective, though a bit of a feint. —Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025 Still, the film thankfully skirts the edge of any dismaying tropes and instead pays off his various noble feints. —Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 30 June 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
  • Greenwood State Beach unfolds below the bluff, a crescent of sand often empty but for driftwood piles and the occasional bonfire ring.
    — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • That kind of in-the-moment bluff is what makes Parvati Shallow a scary, all-time great player.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of bluff
Verb
  • Was Barron there, but just really good at disguising his six-foot-seven frame?
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Try bicycles for more exercise disguised as fun, then saunter over to Spa La Quinta’s 23,000 square feet of bliss.
    — Jenny Peters, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of disguise
Noun
  • Daisy performed the Heimlich maneuver, but to no avail.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Legislature and California residents should be outraged at this maneuver that would undermine law enforcement accountability.
    — Charles Ford Champion, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of maneuver
Verb
  • Responding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Senate Bill 627 would prohibit law enforcement on the local, state and federal level from wearing masks that conceal their identity in the course of duty.
    — Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are three other food and beverage venues, including El Secreto, a hidden salon and bar, quietly concealed behind an unmarked door on the hotel’s second floor, and La Cava, the adjacent emerald-toned jewel that is Faena’s wine cellar, an intimate setting for unforgettable private gatherings.
    — Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • Defense camouflaging more blemishes than Revlon.
    — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
  • All these possibilities can camouflage fences in the background.
    — Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of camouflage
Verb
  • Using self-control solely to avoid rejection or to mask one’s authentic self can be counterproductive.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Lots of trees and other vegetation will mask the center’s five, 270,000-square-foot buildings from neighbors, Jones said.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of mask
Verb
  • McLeod’s video shows her teaching Ella how to feign death during a potential shooting by remaining motionless, often in an awkward pose, and holding her breath.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
  • That lack of confidence is charming and funny; when the experts on With Love, Meghan mess up, their humility feels feigned and unnatural, but Martin’s embarrassment only motivates everyone to help him out.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
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 17 Sep. 2025.

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