wile
noun
\
Definition of wile
(Entry 1 of 2)
wile
verbDefinition of wile (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for wile
Synonyms: Noun
artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, ruse, scheme, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, trick
Synonyms: Verb
allure, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, witch [archaic]
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of wile in a Sentence
Noun
had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner it took both wile and cajolery to talk him into itVerb
her stories of the Old South could wile anyone
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
At one point, resigned to the wiles of their quarry, the Le Domases vote to engage the mansionâs security cameras to locate Grace. — Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, "âReady or Not,â a Screwball Take on the Hide-And-Seek Slasher Film," 24 Aug. 2019 In this last assignment, von Choltitz proved to be not just a man of conviction but also a man of wile. — Jean Edward Smith, Washington Post, "The Allies who liberated Paris, and the Nazi who saved it," 22 Aug. 2019 Orphaned and seemingly completely isolated, with no friends or other relatives, Dani is both tethered solely to Christian and vulnerable to the wiles of a surrogate family, however malevolent. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "âMidsommar,â Reviewed: Ari Asterâs Backwards Horror Story of an American Couple in Sweden," 8 July 2019 Miss Saigon,ââ intent on bringing his wiles to the United States. — Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, "At the Opera House, âMiss Saigonâ shows its age," 17 June 2019 Even shows like Drag Race still operate with certain ideas of what constitutes praiseworthy drag, and their acting challenges often rely on clichĂ©d caricatures of histrionic women using their sexuality and feminine wiles to catfight one another. — Daniel Villarreal, Vox, "Drag queens are more political than ever. Can they lead a movement?," 5 Nov. 2018 Oceanâs 8 playfully enjoys showing off its feminine wiles, like when Constance gives Amita a dating-app lesson or pretty much anything Nine Ball does. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "Review: The thieving women of 'Ocean's 8' pretty much steal the franchise," 5 June 2018 This week, the leaders of Europe are lined up to work their wicked wiles on Donald Trump, at a time when there are major disagreements on climate policy, trade, and â above all, at the moment â how to handle the Iran nuclear deal. — Heather Hurlburt, Daily Intelligencer, "Europe Reveals Its Latest Strategy for Managing Trump," 24 Apr. 2018 Their default skeptical stance is a prophylactic against the wiles of wishful thinking, a dare to true believers to provide extraordinary evidence in support of extraordinary claims. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, "Itâs Never Aliensâuntil It Is," 9 Jan. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Then riders could wile away the hours waiting for a train by looking for Platform 9 3/4 at Kingâs Cross Station in the hopes of catching the Hogwarts Express with Harry Potter and friends. — Melissa Locker, Time, "The Internet Is Sending People All Over on a Heart-Warming Treasure Hunt," 21 Dec. 2017 Directed by Carlos Saldanha, Ferdinand is based on the classic children's book about a peace-loving Spanish bull who would rather wile away the hours smelling flowers and daydreaming than taking to the ring to fight. — Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Heads for $425M-Plus Global Blastoff," 12 Dec. 2017 By Joey Green Periodic table + puns galore = dozens of ways to wile away holiday break with hands-on fun. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "What to Read in December," 10 Nov. 2017 Start your night out with a hefty meal at the Ace or prepare to wile away part of the day exploring the site. — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Ace Cafe makes a play to be Orlando hotspot," 13 July 2017 Sorry! is, to my mind, a perfect way to wile away an hour. — Heidi Stevens, chicagotribune.com, "Ice cream for dinner: A summer rules checklist for parents," 21 June 2017 Both are Wimbledon veterans and wile away the hours playing cards, reading magazines and chatting to other fans who have set up camp beside them. — Aimee Lewis, CNN, "Wimbledon 2017: The art of queuing for the Wimbledon Queue," 5 July 2017 At the bar, patrons wile away the time by sipping classic drinks such as the Gibson, a martini variation. — Charles Passy, WSJ, "For Some New York Restaurants, Whatâs Old Is New," 11 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more