ploys
Wily calculated maneuvers
Ploys are tactics or stratagems, usually suggesting cleverness or mild deception.
A ploy is a calculated move to gain advantage: marketing ploys, a ploy to get attention.
The word often implies the tactic is transparent or manipulative: His apology was just a ploy to avoid punishment.
Ploys need not be sinister—they can be playful or strategic.
Deliberate tactical movement
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
contrivance · device · move · trick · diversion · distraction · red herring · bait and switch
Deliberate act of deception
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
deceit · chicanery · hoax · fraud · dupery · imposture · swindle · bamboozle
Deceiving about one's position
- one-upmanshipQuest to surpass others
- psychingMental intimidation tactics
- outsmartingDefeating through superior intelligence
- outmaneuveringDefeating through superior tactics
feinting · jockeying · posturing · brinkmanship · angling · grandstanding · powerplay · mind games
maneuver
Deliberate tactical movement
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
machination · contrivance · device · move · trick · diversion · distraction · red herring · bait and switch · misdirection
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
artifice · deceit · chicanery · hoax · fraud · dupery · imposture · swindle · bamboozle · hoodwink
bluffing
Deceiving about one's position
- one-upmanshipQuest to surpass others
- psychingMental intimidation tactics
- outsmartingDefeating through superior intelligence
outmaneuvering · feinting · jockeying · posturing · brinkmanship · angling · grandstanding · powerplay · mind games · showboating
ployshonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
candor · truthfulness · forthrightness · transparency · openness
- romantic ployStrategy to attract someone
deploy, ploy, deployment, deployed, deploying, redeploy, redeployment, deployable, redeploying