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ruse

ruse

53 7.7
A clever trick to deceive someone
  • noun
  • /ruːz/
translation icon : artimaña
  • There is a competition for the cleanest bunk, a ruse to trick the campers into being tidy.
  • see through the ruse
  • an elaborate ruse

And so the ruse worked if that was the case.

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Examples

  • It was a ruse to get me closer to my goals.

  • If they figure out my ruse, they'll come looking for me.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • It's all a ruse for government to have more control and more power.

  • Please, her death is just a ruse to trick her enemies.

  • It was all a clever ruse.

  • A clever ruse, but not clever enough to fool this mid-level administrator.

  • The magician's trick was just a clever ruse to astonish the audience.

  • She created a ruse to distract her friend while planning a surprise party.

  • The elaborate scheme was exposed as a ruse designed to deceive investors.

Synonyms

game
vsruse
  • Informal
678 8.2

A secret plan to trick or cheat people

is a clever trick that may be dishonest but not necessarily illegal
deception
vsruse
163 3.9

An action that makes someone believe something not true

is one particular clever plan used as part of that act
charade
vsruse
76 7.4

A false show that hides what is really happening

is a clever trick aimed to deceive, not only a false show
deceit
vsruse
66 4.6

Dishonest action meant to trick someone

is a specific clever plan used for that dishonest action
guise
vsruse
54 7.5

An appearance that hides the truth to trick people

is an active trick or plan rather than only a misleading appearance
trickery
vsruse
27 4.9

To use dishonest ways to cheat people

is one clever planned trick rather than general dishonest methods
subterfuge
vsruse
19 9.5

A trick or excuse to hide the real reason

is focused on tricking someone rather than specifically hiding purpose
hocus
vsruse
18 9.3

A trick used to cheat people, often to get their money

is a planned trick with intent to deceive rather than playful fooling
artifice
vsruse
  • Formal
11 8.1

A clever trick that deceives people or hides the truth

is a clever plan whose main goal is to trick someone
dirty trick
vsruse
11 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

is a clever deceptive plan, not always intended to harm
masquerade
vsruse
8 6.8

A false appearance that hides someone's true feelings or plans

is a planned trick with cleverness rather than just a false look
stratagem
vsruse
7 8.5

A clever plan to trick someone and gain an advantage

is similar but stresses a simple trick to mislead rather than contest
fakery
vsruse
6 6.8

A thing or action made to trick people into thinking it is real

is a planned trick that aims to deceive rather than to produce fake goods
concoction
vsruse
4 6.3

An invented story or plan made to trick people

is a shorter trick or plan rather than a long invented story
put-up job
vsruse
  • Informal
1 8.5

A secret plan to trick people by making something seem accidental

is a single clever plan, not necessarily a staged public event
cunning plan
vsruse
1 5.0

A clever way to trick someone to get what you want

is the same idea but emphasises a single short trick or plan
flam
vsruse
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A trick done to cheat or fool people

is more about a planned trick rather than just a deceptive act
6.3

A clever but dishonest plan to gain an advantage

is similar but often refers to one clever deceptive act
jugglery
vsruse
  • Archaic
9.9

Tricky or dishonest actions used to confuse people and gain advantage

is a single clever trick rather than ongoing manipulative acts
schemey tactic
vsruse
  • Informal
8.4

A plan that uses dishonest tricks to get an unfair advantage

is a clever deceptive plan but may be less manipulative in scope

Antonyms

365 1.0

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

How Clever

subterfuge
19 9.5
stratagem
7 8.5
ruse
53 7.7
ploy
85 4.9
to trick
326 3.5

Surface Forms

ruse singular
ruses plural

Etymology

Ruse comes from an old French word ruse meaning 'trick' or 'device', so a ruse is a clever plan used to fool someone.