sleight
noun
ˈslīt 
1
: deceitful craftiness
also : stratagem
2
: dexterity, skill
Synonyms
- artifice
- device
- dodge
- fetch
- flimflam
- gambit
- gimmick
- jig
- juggle
- knack
- play
- ploy
- ruse
- scheme
- shenanigan
- stratagem
- trick
- wile
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
must have employed some sophisticated sleight to con that wary couple out of their money a brilliant new theory that pays tribute to his remarkable sleight of mind
Recent Examples on the Web Yeah, there was a lot of practical sleight-of-hand magic that took place. 
Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Yet, by sleight of pen, these philosophy-laden pages remain light and graceful. Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 After the vote but before the wedding, Thompson’s press secretary denounced the legislation as a political sleight-of-hand designed to distract voters. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Critics, for some reason, now like to mock the visual sleight-of-hand that goes into a thriller like this one, as if the CGI involved were all too easy to see through. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Aug. 2022 Davis and Giganti sat behind a table opposite Wolfe and launched a non-stop barrage of sleight-of-hand facts, innuendos, and interruptions. Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a Broadway-style production featuring aerial circus acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, acrobatics and other contemporary circus arts, perfect for the entire family. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 19 July 2022 Whether that digital sleight-of-hand ranks as construction, damage or perhaps both is up to you. Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2022 Bossy spun his gold more off the rush, skating into shots, picking apart goalies victimized by his sleight-of-stick magic. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Apr. 2022 See More
Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Yet, by sleight of pen, these philosophy-laden pages remain light and graceful. Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 After the vote but before the wedding, Thompson’s press secretary denounced the legislation as a political sleight-of-hand designed to distract voters. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Critics, for some reason, now like to mock the visual sleight-of-hand that goes into a thriller like this one, as if the CGI involved were all too easy to see through. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Aug. 2022 Davis and Giganti sat behind a table opposite Wolfe and launched a non-stop barrage of sleight-of-hand facts, innuendos, and interruptions. Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a Broadway-style production featuring aerial circus acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, acrobatics and other contemporary circus arts, perfect for the entire family. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 19 July 2022 Whether that digital sleight-of-hand ranks as construction, damage or perhaps both is up to you. Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2022 Bossy spun his gold more off the rush, skating into shots, picking apart goalies victimized by his sleight-of-stick magic. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old Norse slœgth, from slœgr sly — more at sly
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sleight
sleight
noun
1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end must have employed some sophisticated sleight to con that wary couple out of their money Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ruse
- trick
- scheme
- device
- stratagem
- gambit
- ploy
- dodge
- flimflam
- gimmick
- bluff
- jig
- sleight of hand
- knack
- juggle
- deception
- trickery
- wile
- artifice
- shenanigan
- fetch
- subterfuge
- feint
- legerdemain
- cunning
- chicanery
- jugglery
- duplicity
- play
- skulduggery
- hoax
- fakery
- swindling
- swindle
- skullduggery
- cozenage
- cheating
- gaff
- end run
- crookery
- fraud
- sham
- dupery
- front
- craft
- blind
- smoke screen
2
as in finesse
mental skill or quickness a brilliant new theory that pays tribute to his remarkable sleight of mind Synonyms & Similar Words
- finesse
- dexterity
- ability
- prowess
- talent
- cleverness
- adroitness
- proficiency
- competence
- aptitude
- expertise
- competency
- efficiency
- knack
- resourcefulness
- artfulness
- capability
- ingeniousness
- ingenuity
- shrewdness
- capacity
- guile
- cunning
- faculty
- deviousness
- canniness
- sneakiness
- slyness
- slickness
- savvy
- craftiness
- artifice
- cunningness
- caginess
- know-how
- wiliness
- subtleness
- craft
- cageyness
- sharpness
- foxiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incompetence
- incompetency
- ineptitude
- ineptness
- inadequacy
- obtuseness
- foolishness
- stupidity
- dulness
- density
- slowness
- fatuity
- dullness
- mindlessness
- simpleness
- witlessness
- dumbness
- denseness
- dopiness
- brainlessness
- senselessness
- doltishness
- stupidness
3
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity a muscle-bound weight lifter known more for his might than his sleight Synonyms & Similar Words
- agility
- prowess
- nimbleness
- coordination
- deftness
- dexterity
- spryness
- gracefulness
- finesse
- flexibility
- suppleness
- limberness
- litheness
- handiness
- adeptness
- loose-jointedness
- sure-handedness
- adroitness
- sure-footedness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clumsiness
- ungainliness
- gracelessness
- awkwardness
- gaucheness
- incapacity
- disability
- inability
- ham-handedness
- gawkiness
- incapability
- klutziness
- impairment
- heavy-handedness
- incapacitation
- disablement
- gawkishness
- debilitation
- unhandiness
Phrases Containing sleight
- colonizationist
- colonizationists
- colonizations
- colonize
- colonized
- colonizer
- colonizers
- colonizes
- colonizing
- colonnade
- colonnaded
- colonnades
- colonnette
- colonographies
- colonography
- colonoscope
- colonoscopes
- colonoscopies
- colonoscopy
- colons
- colonus
- colony
- colony collapse disorder
- colony house
- colony-stimulating factor