as in fooling
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as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
Tom Sawyer famously hoodwinked the other boys into thinking there was nothing more enjoyable than whitewashing a fence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of hoodwinking
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Stadiums are notorious for their lack of multiplier impact, which is one reason these days why sports team owners, such as the McCaskey family that controls the Bears, have such a hard time hoodwinking governments into giving them direct subsidies to build their stadiums.
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David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoodwinking
Noun
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No fooling, April brings some pretty interesting surprises on Netflix.
Verb
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The schemes involve a predator pretending to be a teenager online and tricking victims into sending illicit photos of themselves.
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Such techniques typically work by tricking the user into approving a request to approve a device owned by the attacker instead.
Noun
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At face value, a $10 million rental is an exorbitant fee for a ruse.
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Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses.
Verb
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Appearance, though, can be deceiving, but luckily, this shed is still packed with smart features and a clever design that will keep all your belongings safe.
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Here, however, the joke is that appearances can be deceiving — or to be more specific, that trying to act like a character in a movie is a reckless, unwise thing to do.
Noun
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The majority sees this as subterfuge.
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The Blacks’ defeat would be certain if not for dragons and subterfuge.
Noun
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Noun
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West said Eisner was particularly delighted with the stage trickery that allowed a child actor to be seen as Chip, a teacup.
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The absolute key to France’s attack is the telepathic understanding brewing between Mbappé and Olise, whose combined trickery and close control are in perfect harmony.
Noun
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Photograph by Glen Wilson / Lionsgate Fuqua’s low-key approach is both a natural expression of his personality and a shrewd stratagem to reassure people around him that everything is under control.
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Through Elizabeth’s rise from servant to visionary who resisted Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church to gain a divorce, Brown explores historical women’s stratagems for self-determination.
Cite this Entry
“Hoodwinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodwinking. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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