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ploy

ploy

85 4.9
A clever trick used to gain an advantage in talk or negotiation
  • noun
  • /plɔɪ/
translation icon : estratagema
  • The old "pull off the road" ploy, huh?
  • a ploy to get
  • a marketing ploy
  • just a ploy

And that's kind of their internal marketing ploy of why they must do it.

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Examples

  • Whether that is genuine or a mere ploy to counter Ramos's appeal to unity remains to be seen.

    Academic text (1992)
  • His suggestion was just a ploy to distract us from the real issue.

  • It's all used as a ploy to get us to buy it.

  • This is all just a ploy to get to you.

  • Great marketing ploy, but not accurate.

  • "In this episode, the writers used a typical ploy found throughout the original run of the series."

    Academic text (2008)
  • To Zupkus, the ploy was a clear sign of possible trouble down the road.

    Academic text (2004)
  • This is an obvious ploy to derail our proceedings.

  • By the way, that was a clever ploy, conning Luke into writing his memoirs.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • She used a clever ploy to win the negotiation in her favor.

Synonyms

tactic
vsploy
516 3.0

A planned action to reach a goal

leans more on cleverness for advantage in social situations than plain planning
play
vsploy
119 5.3

An action to get power, attention, or advantage

is a specific clever tactic used to gain advantage in social interactions
maneuver
vsploy
  • US
108 6.3

A clever move to gain an advantage in a game or fight

often focuses on cleverness or subtle advantage rather than only skillful planning
ruse
vsploy
53 7.7

A clever trick to deceive someone

may aim to gain advantage without necessarily relying on deceit
mind game
vsploy
15 7.2

A trick people use to confuse or control someone to gain an advantage

is often a practical clever action rather than a psychological manipulation
artifice
vsploy
  • Formal
11 8.1

A clever trick that deceives people or hides the truth

focuses on clever advantage in conversation or negotiation rather than hiding actions
gamesmanship
vsploy
8 8.2

Using clever but not clearly against the rules moves to get an advantage in a game or competition

is used broadly in conversations or negotiations as well as games
stratagem
vsploy
7 8.5

A clever plan to trick someone and gain an advantage

is a general clever action used to gain advantage in many situations
gambit
vsploy
7 7.4

An opening action or remark used to get an advantage and start a conversation

can be any clever action used at any stage to gain advantage
tactics
vsploy
4 3.5

Planned short actions used to reach a specific goal

is a single clever action for advantage rather than general multiple strategies
cunning plan
vsploy
1 5.0

A clever way to trick someone to get what you want

is usually a short clever move rather than a long planned scheme
6.3

A clever but dishonest plan to gain an advantage

does not always involve deceit and can be simply clever
schemey tactic
vsploy
  • Informal
8.4

A plan that uses dishonest tricks to get an unfair advantage

is a clever move used for advantage that is not always unfair
7.2

A plan to control people by tricking them

can be clever without intending to control or unfairly influence others

How Strategic

masterstroke
4 7.3
gambit
  • Jargon
4 8.0
tactic
516 3.0
ploy
85 4.9
move
1.1

Surface Forms

ploy singular
ploys plural

Etymology

The word ploy comes from an old Latin root plicare meaning 'to fold' or 'to bend', which passed into old French as a word for a 'turn' or 'twist'. So a ploy is like a small 'bend' or clever turn in a plan — a trick used to change a situation and get an advantage.