sleights

noun

plural of sleight
as in ruses
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sleights Curtsies, snubs, sleights and behavior becoming (or unbecoming) of a Regency woman must pass a certain muster, because the world of the play is dependent upon dramaturgical accuracy. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleights
  1. ruses
  2. tricks
  3. schemes
  4. devices
Noun
  • Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • They are accused of using several ruses to force their way into people’s homes, assaulting unsuspecting residents and holding them hostage for their own money, and demanding access to their crypto accounts.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Definition of ruses
Noun
  • This month was all about the art choices—and a couple clever tricks, too.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
  • Consider the four tricks designers keep up their sleeves for this exact situation.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Definition of tricks
Noun
  • Twelve hundred conceptual categories showed up in just 490 papers and nowhere in the formal schemes, clustered in environmental drivers and ecological processes.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • New York officials say the unit is a national leader that targets complex, high-impact corporate schemes, and Attorney General Letitia James vows legal action, calling the cutoff an outrageous political attack.
    — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of schemes
Noun
  • The Entertainment Thanks to high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi available on JSX flights, travelers are free to stream and browse directly on their personal devices.
    — Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • As more Florida seniors use wearables like continuous glucose monitors, remote blood pressure monitors, smartwatches and fitness trackers, concern grows about who has access to the data these devices collect.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of devices

Browse Nearby Words

sleight of hand
sleights
sleights of hand
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Cite this Entry

“Sleights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleights. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sleights

Nglish: Translation of sleights for Spanish Speakers

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