WILE Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of wile are artifice , feint , maneuver , ruse , stratagem , and trick . While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. // used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

Q: When can 'artifice' be used instead of 'wile'?

The synonyms artifice and wile are sometimes interchangeable, but artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. // the clever artifices of the stage

Q: When would 'feint' be a good substitute for 'wile'?

The words feint and wile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 'maneuver' a more appropriate choice than 'wile'?

The words maneuver and wile can be used in similar contexts, but maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. // last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

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

Although the words ruse and wile have much in common, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. // the ruses of smugglers

Q: Where would 'stratagem' be a reasonable alternative to 'wile'?

In some situations, the words stratagem and wile are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy. // the stratagem -filled game

Q: When is it sensible to use 'trick' instead of 'wile'?

While in some cases nearly identical to wile , trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. // the tricks of the trade

wile 1 of 2

noun

ˈwī(-ə)l

Definition of wile next

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in deception

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end it took both wile and cajolery to talk him into it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wile

2 of 2

verb

as in to fascinate

to attract or delight as if by magic her stories of the Old South could wile anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of wile are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, and trick. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

When can artifice be used instead of wile?

The synonyms artifice and wile are sometimes interchangeable, but artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When would feint be a good substitute for wile?

The words feint and wile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

When is maneuver a more appropriate choice than wile?

The words maneuver and wile can be used in similar contexts, but maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace wile?

Although the words ruse and wile have much in common, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

Where would stratagem be a reasonable alternative to wile?

In some situations, the words stratagem and wile are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When is it sensible to use trick instead of wile?

While in some cases nearly identical to wile, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

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 wile

Noun

Through wiles that vary from telling to telling, the trickster Raven steals the box and releases the Sun, the moon, and all the stars, bringing light to the world. —

Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024 The sequence involved Orion and D-16 — who cannot transformer and work instead as miners — into joining an extended race of Transformers using jet packs and their wiles to shock everyone watching. —

Adam B. Vary, Variety, 25 July 2024

Verb

With so many people traveling, several destinations have risen to the top as most popular for the holiday, and metasearch site Skyscanner gathered the top nine destinations in the US, as well as five international destinations where Americans plan to wile away the long weekend. —

Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2023 As four survivors of a zombie armageddon, the gang wiles away their boredom by racking up zombie kills and invading swanky homes, one of them occupied by Bill Murray in an excellent shock cameo. —

Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wile

Noun

Just a few weeks ago former contestant Rhea Mathew returned to the stage under the ruse of helping celebrate the show's 50th anniversary, only to be surprised by her boyfriend with a proposal.

— EW.com, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Litton, using the name Michael Sanders, had scheduled an appointment with Feather River Adventist School principal under the ruse of enrolling his nonexistent grandson.

— Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025