Synonyms for stratagem
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Ploy — A tactic or artifice designed to gain the upper hand, especially one involving underhanded dealings or…
ploy, ruse, tactic, deception, gambit, trick, plan, scheme, chicanery, maneuver US, manoeuvre UK, deceit, device, artifice, feint, fraud, skulduggery, skullduggery US, game, finesse US CA, blind, chicane, shift, wile
2. Contrivance
Definitions
- n. 1
A tactic or artifice designed to gain the upper hand, especially one involving underhanded dealings or deception.
Near-synonyms: ploy, ruse
- n. 2
Specifically, such a tactic or artifice in military operation.
Related words
- Word family
- stratagemic stratagemical strategic strategist strategy
Forms
- Plural
- stratagems → ploys, ruses, tactics, deceptions…
Choose the right word
A stratagem or maneuver may be of the good against the bad, as it were a skilful movement of war.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- tactic Racial profiling is a controversial police tactic.
- deception She was aware of his propensity towards deception.
- ploy Tom's ploy almost succeeded.
- ruse All the sweet talk was just a ruse to get her into bed.
- trap I think it is cruel to trap animals for fur coats.
- intrigue He watches for an opportunity to intrigue against his rival.
By length
- 4 letters
- game1, plan1, plot1, trap1, ploy1, ruse1, wile1
- 5 letters
- shift1, trick1, blind1, fraud1, craft1, dodge1, feint1
- 6 letters
- device2, scheme1, tactic2, deceit2, gambit2
- 7 letters
- finesse2, chicane
- 8 letters
- maneuver3, intrigue2, artifice3
- 9 letters
- deception3, manoeuvre, chicanery4
- 11 letters
- contrivance3, skulduggery4
- 12 letters
- skullduggery
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (device2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- stratagème
- Español
- estratagema
- Català
- estratagema