stratagem

noun

strat·a·gem ˈstra-tə-jəm How to pronounce stratagem (audio)

-ˌjem

: an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy

: a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end

: skill in ruses or trickery

Did you know?

A stratagem is any clever scheme—sometimes one that's part of an overall strategy (i.e., a carefully worked out plan of action). The word stratagem entered English in the 15th century and was originally used in reference to some artifice, such as a military plan or maneuver, which was designed to deceive or outwit the enemy. This military sense can be traced back to the word's Greek ancestor stratēgēma, which is itself based on stratēgein, meaning "to act as a general." Stratēgein, in turn, comes from stratēgos (meaning "general"), which comes from stratos ("camp" or "army") and agein ("to lead"). Stratēgos is an ancestor of strategy as well.

Example Sentences

tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all

Recent Examples on the Web These actions are possible because of his political stratagem.

Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Since returning to power in 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has deliberately increased Hungary’s reliance on Russian imports as a political stratagem.

Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The old stratagem, devised in childhood: not wanting to exclude myself from the cultural access whites had; not wanting to look damaged by what had been offered grudgingly or compensatorily.

Margo Jefferson, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 This stratagem typically involves an attempt to dupe victims into visiting a fraudulent site that claims to offer payment services, discounts, investment opportunities, loans, etc.

David Balaban, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 The first stratagem of the racist is to quote the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 16 Jan. 2022 Written by co–executive producer Coleman Herbert, this episode employs the tricky but effective stratagem of walking backward through one of the show’s major revelations: How did Roxanne pull off such a huge grift?

Devon Maloney, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2021 But her refusal to communicate don’t offer these theoretical voters any argument to consider or guidestar to follow, which diminishes the effectiveness of this stratagem.

Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Oct. 2021 Armed with the insight, Jill tries and fails to rouse him from his slumbers (a sly and symbolic stratagem, involving the family dog).

Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2021 See More

stratagem

noun

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

ruse
scheme
trick
gambit
device
ploy
dodge
jig
knack
gimmick
sleight
bluff
flimflam
wile
cunning
deception
subterfuge
shenanigan
fetch
artifice
trickery
juggle
sleight of hand
feint
duplicity
chicanery
play
hoax
legerdemain
cozenage
jugglery
swindle
skulduggery
swindling
cheating
fakery
end run
skullduggery
sham
fraud
dupery
gaff
crookery
blind
craft
smoke screen
front

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of stratagem are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

While in some cases nearly identical to stratagem, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

The synonyms feint and stratagem are sometimes interchangeable, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

The meanings of maneuver and stratagem largely overlap; however, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

The words ruse and stratagem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

While the synonyms trick and stratagem are close in meaning, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Although the words wile and stratagem have much in common, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

单词	stratagem
释义	stratagem noun strat·a·gem ˈstra-tə-jəm -ˌjem 1 a : an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy b : a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end 2 : skill in ruses or trickery Did you know? A stratagem is any clever scheme—sometimes one that's part of an overall strategy (i.e., a carefully worked out plan of action). The word stratagem entered English in the 15th century and was originally used in reference to some artifice, such as a military plan or maneuver, which was designed to deceive or outwit the enemy. This military sense can be traced back to the word's Greek ancestor stratēgēma, which is itself based on stratēgein, meaning "to act as a general." Stratēgein, in turn, comes from stratēgos (meaning "general"), which comes from stratos ("camp" or "army") and agein ("to lead"). Stratēgos is an ancestor of strategy as well. Synonyms artifice device dodge fetch flimflam gambit gimmick jig juggle knack play ploy ruse scheme shenanigan sleight trick wile See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all Recent Examples on the Web These actions are possible because of his political stratagem. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Since returning to power in 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has deliberately increased Hungary’s reliance on Russian imports as a political stratagem. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The old stratagem, devised in childhood: not wanting to exclude myself from the cultural access whites had; not wanting to look damaged by what had been offered grudgingly or compensatorily. Margo Jefferson, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 This stratagem typically involves an attempt to dupe victims into visiting a fraudulent site that claims to offer payment services, discounts, investment opportunities, loans, etc. David Balaban, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022 The first stratagem of the racist is to quote the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. John Archibald \| Jarchibald@al.com, al, 16 Jan. 2022 Written by co–executive producer Coleman Herbert, this episode employs the tricky but effective stratagem of walking backward through one of the show’s major revelations: How did Roxanne pull off such a huge grift? Devon Maloney, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2021 But her refusal to communicate don’t offer these theoretical voters any argument to consider or guidestar to follow, which diminishes the effectiveness of this stratagem. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Oct. 2021 Armed with the insight, Jill tries and fails to rouse him from his slumbers (a sly and symbolic stratagem, involving the family dog). Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema, from Greek stratēgēma, from stratēgein to be a general, maneuver, from stratēgos general, from stratos camp, army (akin to Latin stratus, past participle, spread out) + agein to lead — more at stratum, agent First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition stratagem noun strat·a·gem ˈstra-tə-jəm : a clever trick or plan stratagem noun as in ruse a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance ruse scheme trick gambit device ploy dodge jig knack gimmick sleight bluff flimflam wile cunning deception subterfuge shenanigan fetch artifice trickery juggle sleight of hand feint duplicity chicanery play hoax legerdemain cozenage jugglery swindle skulduggery swindling cheating fakery end run skullduggery sham fraud dupery gaff crookery blind craft smoke screen front Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of stratagem are artifice, feint, maneuver, ruse, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy. the stratagem-filled game While in some cases nearly identical to stratagem, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention. the clever artifices of the stage The synonyms feint and stratagem are sometimes interchangeable, but feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent. a feint toward the enemy's left flank The meanings of maneuver and stratagem largely overlap; however, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty. last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy The words ruse and stratagem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression. the ruses of smugglers While the synonyms trick and stratagem are close in meaning, trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end. the tricks of the trade Although the words wile and stratagem have much in common, wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements. used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself
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stratagem

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

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Kids Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser