tricky
adjective
Synonyms
- catchy
- delicate
- difficult
- dodgy [chiefly British]
- hairy
- knotty
- nasty
- prickly
- problematic
- problematical
- sensitive
- spiny
- sticky
- thorny
- ticklish
- touchy
- tough
- tricksy
Example Sentences
James Collard, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 There is that tricky fact that he wasn’t nominated this year. Michael Schneider, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 Though initially tricky to flip the switch from off to on one-handed, our testers could easily change its speed settings by turning a small switch on the side of the device. Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2022 What makes his opinions potentially tricky is the fact that Britain has a constitutional monarchy, which is very different from the type of absolute monarchies that wield total, undemocratic political power in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2022 Once sundress season is over, figuring out how to wear ankle boots can feel tricky. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 8 Sep. 2022 Cannon’s ruling could slow down and complicate the government’s criminal probe, particularly if the Justice Department decides to appeal over the unsettled and tricky questions of what executive privilege a former president may have. Devlin Barrett And Carol D. Leonnig, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 In part, that is because the relief market is a tricky place to spend. Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Cannon’s ruling could slow down and complicate the government’s criminal probe, particularly if the Justice Department decides to appeal over the unsettled and tricky questions of what executive privilege a former president may have. Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
tricky
adjective
tricky
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- difficult
- tough
- problematic
- complicated
- sensitive
- problematical
- problem
- sticky
- tricksy
- hard
- thorny
- delicate
- touchy
- complex
- knotty
- dodgy
- nasty
- ticklish
- serious
- painful
- hairy
- catchy
- spiny
- troublesome
- prickly
- intricate
- vexing
- involved
- abstruse
- recondite
- stubborn
- abstract
- worrisome
- stressful
- inconvenient
- vexatious
- onerous
- exhausting
- demanding
- burdensome
- troublous
- oppressive
- exacting
- scabrous
- importunate
- discommoding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- straightforward
- simple
- uncomplicated
- unproblematic
- effortless
- painless
- undemanding
- manageable
Synonyms & Similar Words
- cunning
- cute
- subtle
- deceptive
- treacherous
- slick
- wily
- dishonest
- fraudulent
- designing
- beguiling
- shrewd
- slippery
- cagey
- crooked
- dodgy
- crafty
- sly
- artful
- devious
- scheming
- shady
- guileful
- foxy
- calculating
- deceitful
- plotting
- sneaky
- sharp
- cagy
- astute
- unscrupulous
- shifty
- secret
- clandestine
- undercover
- oblique
- covert
- serpentine
- glib
- roundabout
- facile
- hypocritical
- circular
- circuitous
- underhanded
- concealed
- knavish
- underhand
- insinuating
- stealthy
- surreptitious
- insincere
- Machiavellian
- furtive
- backhanded
- two-faced
- mealy
- smooth-tongued
- double-dealing
- left-handed
- mealymouthed
- hugger-mugger
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obvious
- simple
- straightforward
- real
- innocent
- artless
- guileless
- plain
- open
- public
- direct
- honest
- unaffected
- natural
- forthright
- frank
- unsophisticated
- outspoken
- candid
- unpretentious
- patent
- sincere
- unconcealed
- undesigning
- ingenuous
- impressionable
- unvarnished
- childlike
- aboveboard
- unpretending
- simpleminded
- unworldly
- unstudied
- trusting
- plainspoken
- unforced
- trustful
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of tricky are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.
While the synonyms artful and tricky are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.
While in some cases nearly identical to tricky, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.
The words cunning and tricky can be used in similar contexts, but cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.
The synonyms foxy and tricky are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.
In some situations, the words slick and tricky are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.
The words sly and tricky are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.
The meanings of wily and tricky largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.