subterfuges
Underhanded evasive maneuvers
Subterfuges is the plural of subterfuge—tricks or stratagems used to evade or deceive.
The word implies cunning methods of avoiding something unpleasant or getting around rules: She resorted to various subterfuges to avoid her creditors.
Subterfuges often carry a negative connotation, suggesting dishonesty or manipulation rather than clever problem-solving.
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
deceit · artifice · charade · pretense · sham · hoax · con · scam
Deceive through cunning
- beguileCharm into deception
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
- dupeDeceive or victim
- misleadCause false belief
deceive · misinform · disinform · misrepresent · distort · fabricate · falsify · delude
Deliberate keeping away
- circumventionAct of going around
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- eludeSkillfully avoid capture
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
deflection · parry · workaround · loophole · pretext · excuse · cover-up · runaround
Cleverly deceptive
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- guilefulInclined toward deception
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
artful · scheming · conniving · underhanded · calculating · shrewd · foxy · slippery
Involving secret intrigue
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- spycraftMethods of secret agents
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
infiltration · intelligence · sabotage · cipher · tradecraft · dead-drop · legend · mole
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
trickery · deceit · artifice · charade · pretense · sham · hoax · con · scam · fraud
bamboozle
Deceive through cunning
mislead · deceive · misinform · disinform · misrepresent · distort · fabricate · falsify · delude · con
avoidance
Deliberate keeping away
- circumventionAct of going around
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- eludeSkillfully avoid capture
dodge · deflection · parry · workaround · loophole · pretext · excuse · cover-up · runaround · escape
sly
Cleverly deceptive
devious · artful · scheming · conniving · underhanded · calculating · shrewd · foxy · slippery · insidious
cloak-and-dagger
Involving secret intrigue
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- spycraftMethods of secret agents
counterintelligence · infiltration · intelligence · sabotage · cipher · tradecraft · dead-drop · legend · mole · reconnaissance
subterfugeshonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
candor · truthfulness · directness · straightforwardness · forthrightness
subterfugestransparency
State of being see-through
openness · directness · laying cards on the table · full disclosure · straight talk