EN

Synonyms for feint

  • noun
  • verb

Most common

diversion ruse pretense US stratagem balk US

All synonyms

Noun

ruse, stratagem, trick, diversion, blind, pretense US, pretence UK, mask, make-believe, sham, humbug, balk US, baulk UK, simulation, imposture

Verb

fake, make like informal US, juke slang

Antonyms

real attack, true move, honesty

All antonyms of feint →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.

  2. v. 1

    To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.

Forms

Plural
feints → ruses, stratagems, tricks, diversions…
Past participle
feinted
e.g. feinted → faked, juked…

Example sentences

  • diversion A diversion is in effect around roadworks in the city centre.
  • ruse All the sweet talk was just a ruse to get her into bed.
  • pretense He made a pretense of knowing my father.
  • stratagem The enemy somehow got word of the stratagem.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
feintrising
diversionfalling
ruserising
pretenserising
stratagemsteady
balkrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
fake1, mask1, sham1, ruse1, juke1, balk1
5 letters
trick1, blind1, baulk
6 letters
humbug2
8 letters
pretense2, pretence
9 letters
diversion3, stratagem3, imposture
10 letters
simulation4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (humbug2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
feinte
Italiano
finta
Español
fingimiento
Deutsch
Schwindel