ruse
noun
Example Sentences
John Brandon, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 In a recent plea deal, Betancur acknowledged that his story about distributing Bibles was a ruse. Paul Duggan, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022 The misleading orders are a ruse to trick the market into thinking supply or demand have changed. Dave Michaels, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 In April, D’Amico was sentenced to 27 months in prison for leading a move that prosecutors allege was a ruse right from the get-go. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 25 July 2022 But as the researchers reveal, their ignorance was a convenient ruse. Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 The new comments come as some fans remain convinced Campbell secretly will return and this is all an Andrew Garfield-esque ruse — but accusing the studio of sexism would be one heck of a commitment to the bit. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 9 Aug. 2022 If the laptop was a Russian ruse, as 51 former U.S. intelligence officials piped up to suggest, this was news. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 26 July 2022 In April, a federal grand jury indicted Taherzadeh and a man named Haider Ali after an investigation uncovered what investigators say was a ruse carried out at the Crossing, a luxury apartment complex on the D.C. waterfront. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 See More Word History
French, from Old French, roundabout path taken by fleeing game, trickery, from reuser
1581, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ruse
noun
Geographical Definition
Ruse
geographical name
ruse
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- deception
- prank
- trick
- subterfuge
- stratagem
- fooling
- trickery
- joking
- deceit
- hoodwinking
- sham
- maneuver
- stunt
- delusion
- caper
- fraud
- experience
- escapade
- gag
- deed
- wile
- practical joke
- lark
- knavery
- antic
- roguery
- capriccio
- whim
- ploy
- skylarking
- play
- hanky-panky
- hoax
- shavie
- dido
- rag
- shine(s)
- monkeyshine(s)
- adventure
- tomfoolery
- gambit
- frolic
- horseplay
- jest
- time
- teasing
- waggery
- hijinks
- high jinks
- rowdyism
- roughhousing
- game
- kidding
- mission
- feat
- shenanigan(s)
- vagary
- performance
- whimsy
- conceit
- caprice
- fancy
- whimsey
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of ruse are artifice, feint, maneuver, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.
The meanings of artifice and ruse largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.
While in some cases nearly identical to ruse, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.
In some situations, the words maneuver and ruse are roughly equivalent. However, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.
The synonyms stratagem and ruse are sometimes interchangeable, but stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.
The words trick and ruse can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.
Although the words wile and ruse have much in common, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.