MANEUVER Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of maneuver are artifice , feint , ruse , stratagem , trick , and wile . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

Q: Where would 'artifice' be a reasonable alternative to 'maneuver'?

While in some cases nearly identical to maneuver , artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

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

The meanings of feint and maneuver largely overlap; however, 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 'ruse' a more appropriate choice than 'maneuver'?

The words ruse and maneuver can be used in similar contexts, but ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

Q: In what contexts can 'stratagem' take the place of 'maneuver'?

The words stratagem and maneuver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy. // the stratagem -filled game

Q: When would 'trick' be a good substitute for 'maneuver'?

In some situations, the words trick and maneuver are roughly equivalent. However, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. // the tricks of the trade

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

Although the words wile and maneuver have much in common, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

maneuver 1 of 2

verb

Definition of maneuver

as in to manipulate

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently maneuvered the conversation so as to avoid the touchy subject of her divorce

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to negotiate

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care successfully maneuvered a way to get him to ask her to the dance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

maneuver

2 of 2

noun

as in attack

Related Words

as in subterfuge

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of maneuver are artifice, feint, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

Where would artifice be a reasonable alternative to maneuver?

While in some cases nearly identical to maneuver, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When is it sensible to use feint instead of maneuver?

The meanings of feint and maneuver largely overlap; however, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

When is ruse a more appropriate choice than maneuver?

The words ruse and maneuver can be used in similar contexts, but ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

In what contexts can stratagem take the place of maneuver?

The words stratagem and maneuver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When would trick be a good substitute for maneuver?

In some situations, the words trick and maneuver are roughly equivalent. However, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

When could wile be used to replace maneuver?

Although the words wile and maneuver have much in common, 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 maneuver

Verb

Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 Many new cars—a Ford Mustang Mach-E, a BMW sedan, a Tesla Cybertruck—will just maneuver into a spot for you with a click of a button. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026

Noun

After things calmed down, Crespo was curious how Isabella, 9, knew to perform the Heimlich maneuver. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 Kim said that the orbiter's maneuver brought a slight change in the phase of the spacecraft's orbit, which canceled the probable conjunction between the upper stage and Danuri. — Leonard David, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maneuver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maneuver

Verb

In virtually every practice, Rodgers gives the young quarterbacks a small piece of information — how to throw the ball on the run, how to carry out play-action, how to manipulate defenders with their eyes.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
New tools in neuroscience have allowed researchers to manipulate the activity of specific neurons in mice brains.

— Danny G. Winder, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

The deal was negotiated by Steven Bestwick of The Yellow Affair and Bill Guentzler and RJ Millard on behalf of Obscured Releasing.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
If the lockout does go through all of 2027, do players not accrue any service time or will that be something that is negotiated/resolved when a deal is ultimately reached?

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Noun

Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Just like Ejva, who suddenly needs to learn how to protect the herd and make her family proud, even when a violent attack leaves her struggling.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

The subterfuge involved him stowing away in an airport catering container to sneak onto the jet.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
The sophistication of model subterfuge that OpenAI has now disclosed, combined with OpenAI’s inability to detect or stop the hacking, suggests far worse could be to come.

— Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of subterfuge

Verb

Records show Denver's own city attorneys handled the Calderon case from its filing in August 2024 until April 2026, when the City Attorney opted to hire Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
With Watts purportedly stressed about finances in the wake of the Late Late Show’s end, McCollough volunteered to subsidize his costs by running his social media accounts and handling odd jobs like manning his merch stand.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of handle

Verb

Palestinians and Lebanese displaced by the 1967 war were joining relatives or acquaintances in Dearborn, and residents arranged food and medical services for the new arrivals.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Solano also arranged for 30 Jackson patients to go to the 14-bed Dulce Hogar ALF on Northwest 26th Avenue between 2016 and the end of 2023.

— Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrange

Noun

The judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge of simple assault against Kissinger, saying that there had been no bodily injury.

— Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
In Hangzhou, the latest assault claims have seen multiple companies initiate internal accountability measures, according to political news outlet Guancha, while the official investigation is ongoing.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of assault

Browse Nearby Words

manes

maneuver

maneuver (around)

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Style

“Maneuver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maneuver. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of maneuver

verb

noun

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