feint 1 of 2

feint

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples 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
This reception, body feint and turn in a 1-0 home win against Watford in November 2021 is one example of his skill set. Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 Spain’s standout attacker at the tournament received the ball out wide, wrong-footed the defender with a brilliant feint and put a ball into the box which eventually trickled on to Celia Segura, who made no mistake from close range. Neel Shelat, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The show also feints at a proper whodunnit, then builds to a nuanced, if anticlimactic conclusion, and all at a lazy river’s pace. Joshua Alston, Variety, 26 Apr. 2023 What’s more, Susan Neuman told me, some clever members of the sixty per cent may be able to feint their way through books for early readers, and so the true extent of their lack of decoding skills may not emerge until as late as third grade. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for feint 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint
Noun
  • Courtesy Sherry Citron Situated atop hills and bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Palisades is known as a playground for the rich and famous.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The Palisades, rising on bluffs and foothills over the Pacific Ocean near the elite communities of Malibu and Santa Monica, has long been an enclave for those looking to escape the urban bustle of Los Angeles.
    Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After all, the film’s ending organically set up an Invisible Woman movie, as Elisabeth Moss’ Cecilia used an invisibility suit to disguise the murder of her abuser as suicide.
    Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Having been itching for some neighbors more along their wavelength, cop Danny (Scotsman Sam Heughan trying very hard to disguise his native accent), and yoga instructor Becka (Australian Jessica De Gouw allowed to use her own) waste little time in introducing themselves.
    Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • At its annual budget forum in December, Connecticut Voices’ analysts urged legislators to reacquaint themselves with Lamont’s budget-balancing maneuvers in 2019 — and one in particular.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Release or trade Alexander Other maneuvers will be made to free up cap space this offseason, but this is the most obvious one.
    Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Nazis wanted to conceal the crime by burning the bodies on mass pyres.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Natural gas giant Spire did not instruct a former employee on how to conceal and destroy documents, Missouri utility regulators concluded in a report released Tuesday, Jan. 21.
    Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • If your flooring looks more like a patchwork quilt thanks to choppy updates and renovations throughout the years, consider an area rug in the entry that can blend or even camouflage the mismatched look.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Native to the forests of Central and South America this iconic snake can grow up 8 feet long (2+ meters), is remarkably well camouflaged, and can be very abundant near human habitation.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Readers looking for the most recent information regarding masking from the CDC can be found here, according to a statement.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The metrics had masked the messier human experience.
    Ron Carson, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Seacrest jokingly shied away from Thomas, feigning fear as the celebrations continued.
    Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Amad feigned to shoot, which saw McGregor take the bait and dive to the floor, before dinking it over him.
    Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near feint

Cite this Entry

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on feint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!