sleights

noun

plural of sleight
as in ruses
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end must have employed some sophisticated sleight to con that wary couple out of their money

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sleights Curtsies, snubs, sleights and behavior becoming (or unbecoming) of a Regency woman must pass a certain muster, because the world of the play is dependent upon dramaturgical accuracy. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleights
  1. ruses
  2. tricks
  3. schemes
  4. devices
Noun
  • There’s a delightful secret history of Hollywood directors whose ruses and stratagems bought them an unusual amount of leeway with their scripts.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even before pro-party AI ruses were possible, the Chinese government and its supporters flooded social media with pro-China propaganda and vicious attacks on critics.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of ruses
Noun
  • Homemade enchiladas might sound like a laborious weekend project, but with a few clever tricks, this version made with black beans and pumpkin can be whipped up on even the most hurried of work nights.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese robotics startup LinkerBot has demonstrated the dexterity of its new robotic hand by teaching it to perform magic tricks.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of tricks
Noun
  • Curious schemes, plus bad tackling, contributed to a unit that was poor against the pass, and worse against the run.
    — Mac Engel October 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Other schemes are more direct—like a new version of the Nigerian prince scam that uses celebrity deepfakes.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of schemes
Noun
  • Investigators are still combing through the suspects' cellphones, dashboard cameras and other devices for clues about potential links to Iran.
    — Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s latest startup Prometheus is using AI to assist engineers in the design and manufacturing of a range of devices—from computers to automobiles to jet engines.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of devices

Browse Nearby Words

sleight of hand
sleights
sleights of hand
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Cite this Entry

“Sleights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleights. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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