How to Use subterfuge in a Sentence

subterfuge

noun
  • They obtained the documents by subterfuge.
  • Now there’s a lot of subterfuge and a lot of cloak and dagger.
    Matthew Schneier, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2021
  • Somehow, Hunt learned of the subterfuge and called Gabriel at the hotel to make the offer.
    Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
  • Karen doesn’t have to keep up the subterfuge by returning through the same door.
    Washington Post, 21 July 2021
  • These men hid their wounds, but their lives have been stained with the effort of that subterfuge.
    James Wood, The New Yorker, 31 May 2017
  • Once filming was complete, the next stage of the gig began for Cox: the subterfuge.
    Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2022
  • Then again, that’s the first rule of espionage and subterfuge.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2021
  • That the performance was so damn good only made the subterfuge all the more worth it.
    Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
  • The heart of the novel is the web of subterfuges, quarrels and reunions that comprise Julien and Mme.
    J. Michael Lennon, wsj.com, 7 Apr. 2023
  • The subterfuge over labels doesn’t change the nature of the threat to our democracy.
    Katherine Stewart, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2022
  • In the hope that such subterfuges are consigned to the past, her name on the program is cited as Maria Grandval.
    Anthony Barcellos, sacbee, 8 June 2018
  • As a wiry shooting guard who topped out at 6-foot-4, Sir’Jabari Rice often has to get by with guile and subterfuge.
    Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Jan. 2023
  • Both men were in the business of subterfuge and surveillance.
    Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2019
  • Some of the subterfuge worked, but not all of the artifacts were protected.
    Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2021
  • The subterfuge may last until observers get around to the side and rear-quarter aspects.
    Dan Neil, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021
  • Jon didn’t have to commit subterfuge and lie to his children or anything.
    Tatiana Siegel, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2022
  • Of course, that could simply be subterfuge coming from Loomis.
    Luke Johnson, NOLA.com, 27 Jan. 2021
  • The subterfuge is what has made the Magic Castle a rare destination for the past 60 years.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023
  • Her messy blond bun and uniform of black turtlenecks have not been held up as a smoking gun in her subterfuge.
    Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2021
  • Instead, he’s opened a sluice at the border and hopes, through subterfuge, to keep people from noticing.
    The Editors, National Review, 2 Feb. 2022
  • The need on that side of the ball is so obvious that Stephen Jones doesn’t even attempt subterfuge going into the draft.
    David Moore, Dallas News, 20 Apr. 2021
  • The committee, and Manchin, and indeed many others in the anti-deficit camp try to scare the public through subterfuge.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2021
  • But, as Stephen Colbert also pointed out last night, the half-baked subterfuge doesn't end there.
    Jack Holmes, Esquire, 11 July 2017
  • Use subterfuge and luck to evade the police officers bent on stopping you.
    Michael O’Donnell, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2020
  • And in a scheme built on deception and subterfuge, that could be more valuable than anything else.
    Daniel Oyefusi, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021
  • But alewives also doom lake trout in a manner that borders on subterfuge.
    jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2021
  • Bell’s response was to express outrage at the B.I.J.’s subterfuge.
    Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 25 May 2018
  • Roy’s father turns to mild subterfuge to help his son win Celestial back.
    Patty Rhule, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2018
  • Look at the subterfuge that Chozen used to insert himself into Terry Silver's life under false pretenses.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 July 2024
  • Such remarks may be subterfuge intended to frighten Russia.
    Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subterfuge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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