Thesaurus results for FEINT

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

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice , maneuver , ruse , stratagem , trick , and wile . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent. // a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Q: In what contexts can 'artifice' take the place of 'feint'?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

Q: When might 'maneuver' be a better fit than 'feint'?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

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

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

Q: When is it sensible to use 'stratagem' instead of 'feint'?

In some situations, the words stratagem and feint 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 can 'trick' be used instead of 'feint'?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. // the tricks of the trade

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

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of feint

as in bluff

sports a quick movement that you make to trick an opponent The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Related Words

Relevance

feint

2 of 2

verb

as in to bluff

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can artifice take the place of feint?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When might maneuver be a better fit than feint?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace feint?

The words ruse and feint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of feint?

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

the stratagem-filled game

When can trick be used instead of feint?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Where would wile be a reasonable alternative to feint?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

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 feint

Noun

Scarpetta contains the standard allotment of feints and false leads. — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026 One appears to be leaning back in a feint or parry — described as resembling the perspective of a spectator at the amphitheater, suggesting the artist may have been drawing from memory after watching a real fight. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026

Verb

The fight started with Perez chopping Johnson's lead leg and feinting level changes, drawing Johnson into the pocket where Perez's shorter, tighter shots landed first. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 The episode feinted toward genuine rapprochement before yanking the rug out, leaving the Gang pelted with an industrial-grade indoor blizzard and then happily hucking rocks at passing trains, as was Mac and Charlie's childhood tradition. — Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for feint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint

Noun

For those who missed it, Kanter and White called the WNBA's bluff by both declaring their intention to enter next year's draft within hours of each other Friday evening.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
The unknown shooter had taken position on a bluff about 2 miles away on state land, just outside their jurisdiction.

— Noah Daly August 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of bluff

Verb

Anyone determined to disguise AI output has plenty of ways to degrade or erase a statistical text watermark.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
His thoughts and theories about World War II were often disguised within domestic plot lines or set in military locales far away from the front lines.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of disguise

Verb

Amazon, Google, Meta and Elon Musk’s xAI all have demanded nondisclosure agreements with local governments, concealing their identity and intent until deals are almost done.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Shih said the suspects wore masks, gloves and hooded clothing to conceal their identities, but detectives were able to identify them as a 19-year-old Tracy man, an 18-year-old San Jose man and a 17-year-old San Jose boy.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceal

Verb

The silky, buildable formula camouflages all things acne scars, dark circles, and other blemishes without looking thick or cakey.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
While the exterior remains camouflaged, the interior reveals a spacious four-seater with ample luggage capacity and a 97-liter frunk.

— James Morris, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of camouflage

Verb

On October 12, 2025, armed and masked thieves broke into the museum and made off with cash from the register and at least one watch.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
If a healthcare organization that uses AI to summarize records were to find problems involving missing queries, for instance, the organization might work on its ability to log queries while also masking sensitive fields to improve HIPAA compliance.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of mask

Verb

Unafraid of sinking as low as possible at the welfare office, Dennis pretended to be recovering from a crack problem while Dee feigned intellectual disability, but the caseworker wasn’t buying it.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Patients are often described as drug seekers and accused of feigning their pain.

— Larry Seward, CBS News, 29 June 2026

Definition of feign

Browse Nearby Words

feigns

feint

feinted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of feint

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

On 'Feign,' 'Feint,' and 'Faint'

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on feint

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

circumscribe

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of feint

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to feint

On 'Feign,' 'Feint,' and 'Faint'

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on feint

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

circumscribe

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes