trickster

noun

trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər How to pronounce trickster (audio)
Synonyms of tricksternext
: one who tricks: such as
a
: a dishonest person who defrauds others by trickery
b
: a person (such as a stage magician) skilled in the use of tricks and illusion
c
: a cunning or deceptive character appearing in various forms in the folklore of many cultures

Synonyms of trickster

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Examples of trickster in a Sentence

a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The flick brings Thor’s trickster adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) into the fold, plus keep your eyes open for a quick first appearance from ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 The Coens’ script really leans into the idea of Ulysses/Odysseus as a clever trickster fond of disguises and schemes. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026 Odysseus is a complex character known for being brilliant and crafty, but also being somewhat of an arrogant trickster. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Yet in his film, Nolan almost completely does away with Odysseus the trickster. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trickster

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trickster was in 1711

Phrases Containing trickster

Browse Nearby Words

tricksome
trickster
trickstering
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trickster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trickster. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

trickster

noun
trick·​ster ˈtrik-stər How to pronounce trickster (audio)
: one who tricks: as
a
: a dishonest person who cheats others by trickery
b
: magician sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on trickster

Nglish: Translation of trickster for Spanish Speakers

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