stratagem
Devious tactical maneuver
A stratagem is a clever scheme or trick designed to outwit an opponent or achieve an objective.
The word carries connotations of cunning and deception—military stratagems involve feints and misdirection, while political stratagems might exploit procedural loopholes: The lawsuit was merely a stratagem to delay the merger.
Unlike strategy, which suggests broad planning, stratagem implies a specific maneuver.
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
deceit · charade · bluff · pretense · sham · duplicity · con · fraud
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
cloak-and-dagger · clandestine · treachery · betrayal · double-dealing · cabal · skulduggery · backroom
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- wileDeceptive trick or scheme
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
shrewdness · slyness · cleverness · astuteness · canniness · scheming · calculating · conniving
Detailed technical drawing
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- designPurposeful creative planning
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
masterstroke · countermeasure · contingency · orchestration · outmaneuvering · positioning · timing · exploitation
Surprise strike from concealment
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- pincerGrasping claw organ
siege · reconnaissance · counterattack · diversion · sortie · enfilade · outflanking · camouflage
Risky opening for advantage
- openingGap or start
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- trapDevice for catching animals
- forkTined eating tool
bluff · finesse · endgame · checkmate · zugzwang · decoy · swindle · tempo
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- quid-pro-quoExchange of equivalents
- coalition-buildingForming multi-party alliances
leverage · powerbroker · Machiavellian · realpolitik · horse-trading · spin · trial-balloon
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
gambit · deceit · charade · bluff · pretense · sham · duplicity · con · fraud · swindle
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
collusion · cloak-and-dagger · clandestine · treachery · betrayal · double-dealing · cabal · skulduggery · backroom · underhanded
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- wileDeceptive trick or scheme
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
craftiness · shrewdness · slyness · cleverness · astuteness · canniness · scheming · calculating · conniving · manipulative
blueprint
Detailed technical drawing
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- designPurposeful creative planning
maneuver · masterstroke · countermeasure · contingency · orchestration · outmaneuvering · positioning · timing · exploitation · preparation
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- feintDeceptive mock attack
pincer · siege · reconnaissance · counterattack · diversion · sortie · enfilade · outflanking · camouflage · decoy
gambit
Risky opening for advantage
fork · bluff · finesse · endgame · checkmate · zugzwang · decoy · swindle · tempo · misdirection
gerrymandering
Manipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- quid-pro-quoExchange of equivalents
coalition-building · leverage · powerbroker · Machiavellian · realpolitik · horse-trading · spin · trial-balloon
stratagemhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
candor · truthfulness · forthrightness · guilelessness · sincerity
stratagembrute force
Power over technique
frontal assault · direct attack · blunt force · brute strength · raw power
stratagemspontaneity
Acting without forethought
improvisation · impulsiveness · shooting from the hip · winging it · happenstance