subterfuge

noun

sub·ter·fuge | \ ˈsəb-tər-ˌfyüj

Definition of subterfuge

1 : deception by artifice or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade

2 : a deceptive device or stratagem

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Subterfuge Has Latin Roots Example Sentences Learn More about subterfuge

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Choose the Right Synonym for subterfuge

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives. deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource. magicians are masters of deception fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice. indicted for fraud double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude. a go-between suspected of double-dealing subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end. obtained the papers by subterfuge trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat. resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Subterfuge Has Latin Roots

Though "subterfuge" is a synonym of "deception," "fraud," "double-dealing," and "trickery," there’s nothing tricky about the word’s etymology. We borrowed the word and meaning from Late Latin subterfugium. That word contains the Latin prefix subter-, meaning "secretly," which derives from the adverb subter, meaning "underneath." The "-fuge" portion comes from the Latin verb fugere, which means "to flee" and which is also the source of words such as "fugitive" and "refuge," among others.

Examples of subterfuge in a Sentence

And the same kind of subterfuge that causes employees to open a virus-laden attachment could also lead them to unknowingly install programs that ship all their data to unscrupulous competitors. — Paul Wallich, Scientific American, July 2000 Williams has worn a wedding ring for the past decade. Originally it was a fake diamond used as a subterfuge during her days as an activist in Central America … — Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, February 1998 The first pool appeared on the scene in 1791, organized to manipulate stock of the U.S. Bank. Members of a pool contributed money, which was handed over to a single operator, who put into effect various strategies and subterfuges. He could depress the price of a stock, buy a lot at the low point, then artificially raise the price, and sell at a profit; or he might sell short, then depress the price and make a profit. — Kathleen Odean, High Steppers, Fallen Angels, and Lollipops, 1988 They obtained the documents by subterfuge. propagandists who use a kind of photographic subterfuge, superimposing one image on another to create a false “reality”

Recent Examples on the Web

The film prepares its viewers to expect conflict between Americanized Bili, who thinks the diagnosis should be public knowledge, and her family, who see their subterfuge as a filial duty. — Zoë Hu, The New Republic, "Crazy Sad Asians," 27 Aug. 2019 Nevertheless, Apple’s incalculable debt to the U.S. government has not deterred it from employing virtually every subterfuge at its disposal to duck applicable tax levies. — Win Mccormack, The New Republic, "The Green New Deal: A Capitalist Plot (Part 2)," 15 Aug. 2019 Such an undertaking would echo similar naval missions that guarded ships from Tehran’s and Baghdad’s subterfuge during the 1980-1988 Iran–Iraq War. — Deroy Murdock, National Review, "Trump Should Assemble a Multinational Naval Convoy," 28 June 2019 The meaning behind her dad’s subterfuge — that all men will deceive you at some point — has infected Madeline’s understanding of love and relationships. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "This Big Little Lies Revelation Explains The Secret Behind Madeline's Failed Marriages," 25 June 2019 However, while such luminaries as Kant and Goethe were never themselves caught red-handed in a massive whopper, their two most influential works hinged directly on the role of subterfuge in an enlightened society. — Rebecca Schuman, Longreads, "On Truth and Lying in the Extra German Sense," 20 June 2019 The activity appears to reflect increasing attempts by the Iranian regime to push its geopolitical agenda through online subterfuge. — Dustin Volz, WSJ, "Facebook Pulls Hundreds of Fake Accounts Engaged in Coordinated Influence Campaign," 21 Aug. 2018 That sort of federal subterfuge is par for the course. — Brian Barrett, WIRED, "How the US Government Secretly Sold 'Spy Phones' to Suspects," 13 July 2018 And according to Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a pressure group, questionable journals now also occasionally retract articles in a bid to appear responsible, in what can only be described as a superb piece of subterfuge. — The Economist, "Some science journals that claim to peer review papers do not do so," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subterfuge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for subterfuge

subterfuge

noun

English Language Learners Definition of subterfuge

formal : the use of tricks especially to hide, avoid, or get something

See the full definition for subterfuge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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subterfuge

Definition of subterfuge

Synonyms for subterfuge

Choose the Right Synonym for subterfuge

Subterfuge Has Latin Roots

Examples of subterfuge in a Sentence

First Known Use of subterfuge

History and Etymology for subterfuge

English Language Learners Definition of subterfuge

subterfuge

Definition of subterfuge

Synonyms for subterfuge

Choose the Right Synonym for subterfuge

Subterfuge Has Latin Roots

Examples of subterfuge in a Sentence

First Known Use of subterfuge

History and Etymology for subterfuge

English Language Learners Definition of subterfuge

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