1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
her husband used every trick in the book to get out of appearing in his parish's fashion show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
thought that gluing the silver dollar to the floor and watching him struggle to pick it up would be a good trick
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ritual
a usual manner of behaving or doing
that deadbeat is up to his usual tricks: once again he's claiming the check is in the mail
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4
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness
it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here
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5
as in trait
an odd or peculiar habit
a dog with the trick of eating cabbage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tricky
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of trick
Brennan Long,
Southern Living,
3 July 2026
For those determined to wrap an actual object, gifting experts say the trick is to avoid anything that merely announces its own price tag.
—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2026
Donovan McCarty,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Jennifer Jolly,
USA TODAY,
28 Oct. 2021
And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
11 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for trick
Noun
This super-simple dessert performs a delicious magic trick in the oven—the berries sink and the topping rises, yielding a stunning summery treat.
—
Brennan Long,
Southern Living,
3 July 2026
For those determined to wrap an actual object, gifting experts say the trick is to avoid anything that merely announces its own price tag.
—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2026
Verb
Once stamped and indexed, the deed appears legitimate and can easily trick desperate buyers, investors, financial institutions and even police officers, lawyers and judges.
—
Donovan McCarty,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Adjective
If the high cost of it all is more trick than treat for you, here are several ways to turn your already smart home into a spook-tacularly genius haunted house.
—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA TODAY,
28 Oct. 2021
And arguably, given the variety of cask types used by the distillery, Angel’s Envy is actually a multi-trick pony.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
11 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for trick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trick
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.
Noun
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Those ticket sales rank as the worst opening in the prank comedy series that’s all about risking life, limb and dignity.
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Police used the incident to warn the public that pranks involving Orbeez guns, airsoft guns, or other toy firearms can provoke dangerous reactions and lead to criminal charges.
Noun
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That the ritual continues Saturday after Saturday, year after year, is its own kind of small miracle.
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Supporters argue that the gatherings represent a form of devotion untethered from rigid rituals and the gatekeeping normally associated with temples or religious processions.
Noun
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The 31-year-old is continuing to make his case as one of the best players in baseball history, achieving unprecedented feats as a rare two-way player who has been dominant both as a hitter and a pitcher.
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Then the cell performs an astounding, microscopic feat of strength.
Noun
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The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
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Caretakers manage breeding programs to preserve their distinctive traits, including their long horns and rich brown coloring, a shade associated with royalty, maturity and stability.
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.
Adjective
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Keeping money out of the Cuban government’s hands while helping the Cuban people is tricky, said Aymee Valdivia, an attorney at Holland & Knight who advises companies doing business in Cuba.
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Celeb-Inspired Fourth of July Looks Fourth of July dressing can be surprisingly tricky.
Noun
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The Empire State Building frequently switches up its lighting scheme to commemorate special events throughout the year.
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The other company whose shares were manipulated in the scheme, E-Waste, had an even higher market cap at some point, despite being nothing more than a shell company.
Cite this Entry
“Trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trick. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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