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trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.
trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.
ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.
stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.
maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.
artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.
wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.
feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.
Examples of ruse in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ruse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
French, from Old French, roundabout path taken by fleeing game, trickery, from reuser
1581, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near ruse
Cite this Entry
“Ruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruse. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Geographical Definition
Ruse
geographical name
More from Merriam-Webster on ruse
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ruse
Nglish: Translation of ruse for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ruse for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ruse
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