Thesaurus results for RUSES

ruses

noun

plural of ruse

as in deceptions

an act that is used to fool someone His act was just a clever ruse to get me to go out with him.

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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 ruses 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 Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 June 2026 They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings. — Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses. — Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses. — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruses

Noun

Root had also worked with Rhys on Perry Mason and was quite literally along for the ride with his behind-the-scenes pranks on that show.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
The implication was that Gastélum, while performing juvenile pranks, had been making a subtle nod to one group’s power.

— Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pranks

Noun

Diehl calls it one of the oldest tricks in styling, the pairing of something refined against something plain.

— Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
From the outset, Schoenbrun asked the designers to look to old moviemaking tricks for inspiration to make the landscapes at the Camp Miasma set as dreamy and immersive as the director envisioned.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of tricks

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ruse

ruses

rush

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“Ruses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruses. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruses

noun

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