1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
it took both wile and cajolery to talk him into it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
her stories of the Old South could wile anyone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wile
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Still, the unscrupulous Moss uses his wiles and his belligerent way with words to try selling Aaronow on the idea of breaking into the office.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Disney is betting travelers will be wiling to pay a premium for an elevated Disney experience.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wile
Noun
Tiffany Renee Johnson does well in showing the two sides of Senegalese braider Aminata, who is proud and dignified with her peers, but vulnerable to the wiles of her cheating, out-of-work husband.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Still, the unscrupulous Moss uses his wiles and his belligerent way with words to try selling Aaronow on the idea of breaking into the office.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Will Smith stars as a penniless Anthony Ramos lookalike fish named Oscar, who wiles away his days scrubbing cetaceans’ tongues clean in the 'Whale Wash,' fantasizing about the good life.
—Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Disney is betting travelers will be wiling to pay a premium for an elevated Disney experience.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wile
Noun
-
No, because the medic — work requirements are a ruse.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
13 July 2025
-
Ben Affleck's Argo is a real film about the ruse of making a fake film to help rescue real-life hostages in Iran.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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And how could Faas have knowingly perpetrated such deception?—
Gary Knight,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
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This campaign of deception from Big Oil and the plastics industry underscores why California’s lawsuit against Exxon is so vital.—
Chelsea Linsley,
Mercury News,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Highball fascinates with its cozy, yet brooding ambience and complex, clean cocktails.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
These elephants fascinate zoologists for their ability to handle the harsh weather conditions in the area, including strong, ice-cold winds and alternating droughts and heavy rains.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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From fashion tips and tricks to tween and teen hair and nails, our back-to-school style guide has a little bit of everything.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
29 July 2025
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So begins a scrappy come-up story, about older dogs learning new tricks to revitalize a dying print industry.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
28 July 2025
Noun
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The six-parter, to debut July 14, follows six groups of friends, and six historical cases of murder and treachery among them.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
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But amid the bloodbaths and treacheries, Westeros still penciled in time for a little romance — some more compelling than others (Jon and Ygritte > Jon and Daenerys).—
Tyler Aquilina,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In a performance pulsating with a rejuvenated energy, Detroit R&B star Kem charmed a capacity crowd Friday night at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre to open a two-night homecoming stand.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
27 July 2025
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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos charm at the New York premiere of Running with the Wolves, which documents their ownership of an Italian soccer club on July 23.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
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Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients as part of the scheme, paid bribes totaling more than $7 million and used more than $15 million for his own benefit, according to prosecutors.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
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The scheme requires drivers to pay a fee—based on the time and duration of their visit and their vehicle type—to enter the lower part of Manhattan, from the southern end of Central Park to the city’s financial district.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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In the Carlson interview, Kennedy dismissed the many studies and scientific consensus that shots don’t cause autism as nothing more than statistical trickery.—
Patricia Callahan,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
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Indeed, in the 1950s, a magician from New York named John Mulholland was secretly contracted with the agency to write a manual for Cold War spies on trickery and deception.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wile. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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