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

Examples of wile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Soulfully too, as the mythical tale of a hairy man torn asunder by a woman’s wiles is given genuine funk and grit by Turner’s swaggering vocal performance and her own sinewy melody. —

A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 24 May 2023 Asado Beef’s so tempting in Argentina that even vegetarians have been known to succumb to its wiles. —

Sorrel Moseley-Williams, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023

Verb

While some children might peruse Wikipedia for hours on end, others could wile away the hours on video sites. —

Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 Mar. 2013 While many beauty brand founders will wile away the afternoon swatching lipsticks or brainstorming packaging, Butler is in the wild forests of Wyoming hand-picking ingredients for her brand Alpyn Beauty. —

Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 See all Example Sentences for wile

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