WILE Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of wile are artifice , feint , maneuver , ruse , stratagem , and trick . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

Q: When can 'artifice' be used instead of 'wile'?

The synonyms artifice and wile are sometimes interchangeable, but artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

Q: When would 'feint' be a good substitute for 'wile'?

The words feint and wile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent. // a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Q: When is 'maneuver' a more appropriate choice than 'wile'?

The words maneuver and wile can be used in similar contexts, but maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

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

Although the words ruse and wile have much in common, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

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

In some situations, the words stratagem and wile 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 is it sensible to use 'trick' instead of 'wile'?

While in some cases nearly identical to wile , trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. // the tricks of the trade

wile 1 of 2

noun

ˈwī(-ə)l

Definition of wile

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in deception

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end it took both wile and cajolery to talk him into it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wile

2 of 2

verb

as in to fascinate

to attract or delight as if by magic her stories of the Old South could wile anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of wile are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and trick. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

When can artifice be used instead of wile?

The synonyms artifice and wile are sometimes interchangeable, but artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for wile?

The words feint and wile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

When is maneuver a more appropriate choice than wile?

The words maneuver and wile can be used in similar contexts, but maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace wile?

Although the words ruse and wile have much in common, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

Where would stratagem be a reasonable alternative to wile?

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

the stratagem-filled game

When is it sensible to use trick instead of wile?

While in some cases nearly identical to wile, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

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 wile

Noun

The format has an all-powerful ‘Taskmaster’ who, with the help of a loyal assistant, tests the wiles of a panel of comedians over the course of each series by setting them weird and wonderful challenges. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026 Jimin Han’s graceful novel reimagines the legend of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s version of Romeo and Juliet, as 30-year-old Dahee seeks to protect her cousin Channing from the wiles of a Korean American community in New England. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 4 Apr. 2026

Verb

Reeves and Winter use every trick in their respective books to wile while waiting. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025 Europe generally speaking is on Ukraine’s side, wants a settlement to the war to be as close to Kyiv’s preferences as possible and isn’t wiling to explore a detente with Moscow until the war is over. — Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wile

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

Nefarious actors have long been keen to fill the gap through what international law describes as coercion, deception and abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability.

— Robert P. George, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026
The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Zishan Zeng, was charged with two counts of elder exploitation and two counts of theft by deception.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of deception

Verb

The reaction to this movie fascinates me, starting in Cannes.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
In 2008, passionate surfer Tim Russo purchased the property, renamed it, and set out to organically grow it into a resort full of wonder where serious surfers and travelers fascinated with the surf lifestyle could vacation happily.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Noun

The killings and his six-week trial in 2023 captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of treachery

Verb

But competition is tough, and few serious investors are charmed by candlelight meetings.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
During a visit in August, I was charmed to find that the fresh Jersey peaches infused into the water were cut in the shape of hearts.

— Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of charm

Noun

Perhaps that’s why the studio’s new reliance upon computer trickery — courtesy of a collaboration with Wētā FX — feels more like more of a symptom of Prue’s crisis than part of the solution to it.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2026
Thursday is The New York Times’s favorite day of the week to publish crosswords with twists, surprises or extra layers of trickery to puzzle over.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of trickery

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“Wile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wile. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wile

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verb

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Synonyms of wile

noun

verb

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Articles Related to wile

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