1
as in cheats
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in magicians
one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment
a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tricksters
Like his ancestors, once known as prairie wolves, as song dogs, as tricksters and gods, who emerged from the deserts and high plains.
—
Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Eating disorders are master tricksters.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Floods, tricksters, battles with monsters, creation and apocalypse—sometimes the resemblances are uncanny.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Many of the short form videos are skits featuring cartoonish depictions of Putin, Khamenei and Kim Jong Un posing as tricksters that prank, imprison or kill Trump and Netanyahu.
—Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In addition to taste testing at the wine and beer tents, see live performances by musical artists, polka dancers and BMX tricksters.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Eating disorders are master tricksters.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
Floods, tricksters, battles with monsters, creation and apocalypse—sometimes the resemblances are uncanny.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Many of the short form videos are skits featuring cartoonish depictions of Putin, Khamenei and Kim Jong Un posing as tricksters that prank, imprison or kill Trump and Netanyahu.
—Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In addition to taste testing at the wine and beer tents, see live performances by musical artists, polka dancers and BMX tricksters.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksters
Noun
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Migrant welfare cheats exposed!—
The Hill,
The Hill,
5 May 2026
-
Iran lies, cheats, blusters and bullies.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hollywood artists like Lubitsch and Wilder were magicians who knew how to lure in an audience.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
12 May 2026
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Or just show up to watch the parade and take in the dancers, marching band, magicians, one-woman circus variety show, and more.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.—
Kirsten Grieshaber,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The itinerary includes diving and snorkeling in some of the country’s most biodiverse reefs, with frequent sightings of manta rays, reef sharks and dolphins, as well as swimming alongside whale sharks in Saleh Bay.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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More than 100 million sharks are killed a year due to overfishing, water pollution, climate change and loss of habitat, according to the video.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The decade ended tumultuously, with the Osmond family’s fortune drained by a series of swindlers and grifters.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
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This scam, according to Kent, could be proliferated with the use of AI, which can allow swindlers to enroll in many different college programs at once.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tricksters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksters. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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