Thesaurus results for PLOY

ploy

noun

ˈplȯi

Definition of ploy

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in spree

a time or instance of carefree fun wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family

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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 ploy Critics dismissed the threat as a ploy to manufacture leverage in deal discussions. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 It may be overlooked, considering how comfortable Suzuki appears when carrying out Unai Emery’s ploy of his backline baiting an opponent’s press, but at Parma, he was required to kick mostly long. — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Uthmeier’s deputy chief of staff, Jeremy Redfern, told the Herald/Times that the letter is nothing more than a campaign ploy. — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 The post was actually just a ploy to get more people to listen to the song. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ploy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy

Noun

What about when Carole was hiding in the closet to try to overhear Luann calling her a pedophile, and Jules Wainstein kept trying to ruin her ruse?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Last-ditch plan for prosecution Authorities next developed what Smallwood described as a last-ditch plan to prosecute Tanzer — a ruse that could catch him lying about the rape.

— Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruse

Noun

That buying spree reflects Beijing's push to cut its dependence on the dollar, and Chinese households' lack of safe alternatives, with analysts expecting sustained demand for the bullion in a struggling economy.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Sandler stars as a downtrodden deli worker who steps up to protect his fellow Salem residents from a Halloween-night kidnapping spree.

— Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of spree

Noun

The court order stems from a finding that Shkreli organized an anti-competitive scheme to perpetuate his company Vyera Pharmaceuticals’ monopoly in the anti-parasitic drug Daraprim.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Similar Excel spreadsheets are used to organize schemes where Indian scammers in Delhi or Kolkata impersonate Microsoft tech support, the Internal Revenue Service or even the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

— Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of scheme

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plows

ploy

ploys

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“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ploy

noun

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