trickery
Sleight of hand
Trickery is the use of deception or cunning to achieve something—schemes, ruses, or dishonest maneuvers: The contract was obtained through trickery.
The word suggests cleverness in the deception, not brute force or outright theft: Stage magic relies on trickery and misdirection.
Deliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
swindle · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · flimflam · dupery · imposture · knavery · jiggery-pokery
Storyline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
gambit · ploy · ruse · maneuver · collusion · cabal · underhanded · covert
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
sham · charlatan · grift · phishing · embezzlement · falsification · racketeering · pyramid scheme
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- slynessCunning in manner
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilinessShrewd deceptive cleverness
- artfulnessClever, crafty skill
foxiness · shrewdness · wiles · astuteness · caginess · cleverness · subtlety · deviousness
Skillful manual deception
- magicSupernatural or illusory power
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- prestidigitationSkillful hand-based illusions
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
legerdemain · illusionist · vanishing act · smoke and mirrors · shell game · three-card monte · hocus-pocus · wizardry
Deceptive outward appearance
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- impersonationPretending to be another
hypocrisy · insincerity · veneer · feigning · dissembling · playacting · false front · put-on
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
hoax · swindle · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · flimflam · dupery · imposture · knavery · jiggery-pokery · obfuscation
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
stratagem · gambit · ploy · ruse · maneuver · collusion · cabal · underhanded · covert · manipulation
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
counterfeit · sham · charlatan · grift · phishing · embezzlement · falsification · racketeering · pyramid scheme · Ponzi scheme
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- slynessCunning in manner
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilinessShrewd deceptive cleverness
artfulness · foxiness · shrewdness · wiles · astuteness · caginess · cleverness · subtlety · deviousness · slickness
sleight of hand
Skillful manual deception
- magicSupernatural or illusory power
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- prestidigitationSkillful hand-based illusions
misdirection · legerdemain · illusionist · vanishing act · smoke and mirrors · shell game · three-card monte · hocus-pocus · wizardry · slight
facade
Deceptive outward appearance
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
impersonation · hypocrisy · insincerity · veneer · feigning · dissembling · playacting · false front · put-on · affectation
trickeryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
truthfulness · sincerity · candor · forthrightness · openness
trickeryplainness
Unadorned, straightforward quality
plainspokenness · simplicity · directness · straightforwardness · bluntness
- tricked outLavishly customized or decorated
- visual trickeryDeception through sight