Thesaurus results for FEINT

Q: How is the word 'feint' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice , maneuver , ruse , stratagem , trick , and wile . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent. // a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Q: In what contexts can 'artifice' take the place of 'feint'?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

Q: When might 'maneuver' be a better fit than 'feint'?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

Q: When could 'ruse' be used to replace 'feint'?

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

Q: When is it sensible to use 'stratagem' instead of 'feint'?

In some situations, the words stratagem and feint are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy. // the stratagem -filled game

Q: When can 'trick' be used instead of 'feint'?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. // the tricks of the trade

Q: Where would 'wile' be a reasonable alternative to 'feint'?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of feint

as in bluff

sports a quick movement that you make to trick an opponent The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Related Words

Relevance

feint

2 of 2

verb

as in to bluff

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word feint different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can artifice take the place of feint?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When might maneuver be a better fit than feint?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace feint?

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of feint?

In some situations, the words stratagem and feint are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When can trick be used instead of feint?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Where would wile be a reasonable alternative to feint?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of feint

Noun

Japanese scientists studied university and junior high school soccer players of varying skill levels to study dribbling dynamics, focusing on the scissors feint. — ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026 Scarpetta contains the standard allotment of feints and false leads. — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026

Verb

The fight started with Perez chopping Johnson's lead leg and feinting level changes, drawing Johnson into the pocket where Perez's shorter, tighter shots landed first. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 The episode feinted toward genuine rapprochement before yanking the rug out, leaving the Gang pelted with an industrial-grade indoor blizzard and then happily hucking rocks at passing trains, as was Mac and Charlie's childhood tradition. — Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for feint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint

Noun

Natural limestone bluffs will also be visible and incorporated into the design, new renderings show, similar to the bluff inside the nearby Westin hotel.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
The Missouri River Runner runs daily and is a nearly 6-hour, one-way ride, tracing the Missouri river past bluffs, forests, and vineyards blazing red and gold each fall.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of bluff

Verb

The 414-foot Lürssen wasn’t a floating palace like most of the world’s largest yachts before it, but an expedition ship disguised as a superyacht, complete with submarines, helipads, a drive-in marina, and research capabilities.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
With a virtual private network, your requests are pushed through an anonymized server in a different location, which disguises your identifying information.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disguise

Noun

In seeking to return to the National Palace, Martelly faces several obstacles, which raise questions about whether his bid is a serious attempt at a political comeback or a maneuver to position himself as a potential kingmaker in the race.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
SkyFall maneuver AeroVironment of Arlington, Virginia is partnering with JPL, selected last August to co-design and co-manufacture the SkyFall helicopters.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of maneuver

Verb

The listening device was plugged into a USB port on the back of a television, concealed by a small piece of toilet paper, according to the FBI.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
The device, which had a detachable camera sensor, digital microphone, and microSD storage, was concealed in toilet paper, according to the complaint.

— Dan Mangan,Eamon Javers,Paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

Rather than always keeping her baby bumps concealed or camouflaged, the hitmaker embraced bold colors and cutouts that made her belly a focal point.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
In Tech Reviews Science Entertainment AI Policy If a data center is camouflaged in the woods, will anyone hate it?

— Justine Calma, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of camouflage

Verb

Traditional methods of dealing with bad odors involve masking them with air fresheners or trapping odor-causing molecules in filters.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Father and son were just getting home when ICE agents, who Belgal claimed were masked and did not immediately identify themselves, rushed the driver-side window of the car with the firearm.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of mask

Verb

Macca shot back as Poehler feigned ignorance and let out a laugh.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Linney’s Guardian tries to draw out some resentment from her new candidate, but John expresses (or feigns) sympathy for Hal, who was betrayed by his father figure Sinestro, an experience John likens to his own complicated upbringing.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of feign

Browse Nearby Words

feigns

feint

feinted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of feint

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

On 'Feign,' 'Feint,' and 'Faint'

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of feint

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to feint

On 'Feign,' 'Feint,' and 'Faint'

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes