chicanery
Underhanded dealing tactics
Chicanery is the use of trickery or deception to achieve one's ends, especially through clever but misleading arguments or legal technicalities.
The word suggests underhanded cleverness rather than outright lying—manipulation of facts, exploitation of loopholes, or verbal sleight of hand: The contract was riddled with legal chicanery.
Often used in political and legal contexts.
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- wileDeceptive trick or scheme
- feintDeceptive mock attack
hoax · sham · dodge · gimmick · subterfuge · flimflam · gambit · sleight
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
cunning · craftiness · dissembling · prevarication · misrepresentation · falsification · obfuscation · untruthfulness
Crafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
connivance · collusion · cabal · scheming · maneuvering · jockeying · skulduggery · skullduggery
Rapid rotation around axis
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
stonewalling · filibustering · lobbying · backroom deal · cronyism · graft · corruption · vote rigging
Deceptive reasoning
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- technicalityPrecise procedural point
- legaleseAttorneys' technical jargon
- fine printMiniature contractual text
evasion · circumvention · manipulation · misrepresentation · perjury · obstruction · falsification · tampering
Deception for financial gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
imposture · counterfeit · quackery · mountebank · grift · bunco · fleecing · bilking
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
feint · hoax · sham · dodge · gimmick · subterfuge · flimflam · gambit · sleight · con
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
dishonesty · cunning · craftiness · dissembling · prevarication · misrepresentation · falsification · obfuscation · untruthfulness · duplicitous
machination
Crafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
manipulation · connivance · collusion · cabal · scheming · maneuvering · jockeying · skulduggery · skullduggery · politicking
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
obfuscation · stonewalling · filibustering · lobbying · backroom deal · cronyism · graft · corruption · vote rigging · disinformation
sophistry
Deceptive reasoning
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- technicalityPrecise procedural point
- legaleseAttorneys' technical jargon
fine print · evasion · circumvention · manipulation · misrepresentation · perjury · obstruction · falsification · tampering · sharp practice
swindle
Deception for financial gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
fraudster · imposture · counterfeit · quackery · mountebank · grift · bunco · fleecing · bilking · swindler
chicaneryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
truthfulness · forthrightness · candor · integrity · sincerity
chicaneryplainness
Unadorned, straightforward quality
directness · straightforwardness · simplicity · plain dealing · bluntness