feint

1 of 2

noun

ˈfānt 

: something feigned

specifically : a mock blow or attack on or toward one part in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack

The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

feint

2 of 2

verb

feinted; feinting; feints

intransitive verb

: to make a feint

transitive verb

1

: to lure or deceive with a feint

2

: to make a pretense of

Choose the Right Synonym for feint

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.

trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Examples of feint in a Sentence

Noun

The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Verb

He feinted with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Even the film’s pretty, Barbie-pink title font is a feint. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025

As the apparently info-poor future husband brushes off his well-meaning scene partner, Elle Duncan walks in and there’s another head feint at the S-E-X talk. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Verb

Lewis-Skelly duly sauntered into the City box, feinted his way onto his wrong foot, and clipped in a beauty. —Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025

At the 10-yard mark, Johnston stutter-stepped, feinting a break on the route. —Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French feinte, going back to Middle French fainte, feinte "act of dissembling, subterfuge," noun derivative from feminine past participle of feindre "to fabricate, dissemble, feign"

Verb

derivative of feint entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1644, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1741, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

feint

noun

ˈfānt

: a pretended blow or attack at one point in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack

feint verb