feint 1 of 2

noun

Definition of feintnext
as in bluff
sports a quick movement that you make to trick an opponent The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

feint

2 of 2

verb

as in to bluff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word feint different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of feint are artifice, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, trick, and wile. While all these words mean "an indirect means to gain an end," feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

In what contexts can artifice take the place of feint?

The meanings of artifice and feint largely overlap; however, artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

When might maneuver be a better fit than feint?

While the synonyms maneuver and feint are close in meaning, maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

When could ruse be used to replace feint?

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

the ruses of smugglers

When is it sensible to use stratagem instead of feint?

In some situations, the words stratagem and feint are roughly equivalent. However, stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

When can trick be used instead of feint?

The words trick and feint can be used in similar contexts, but trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

Where would wile be a reasonable alternative to feint?

The synonyms wile and feint are sometimes interchangeable, but wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

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 feint
Noun
The confrontation ends when Rick pulls his gun, takes a few impotent feints at his nemesis like a junior high bully who delights in watching his prey flinch, then frustratedly tips over Jim’s chair, grabs Frank, and leaves. —Judy Berman, Time, 31 Mar. 2025 For added drama, there was a disorderly stampede out of Treasuries and the U.S. dollar , banishing hope and leaving an upside air pocket that was partially filled when buyers seized on the Trump administration’s equivocal feints toward a de-escalation of trade aggressions. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
When the second Trump Administration, during its first week, feinted toward freezing federal funding programs, universities were among the institutions whose blood ran cold. —Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 The fire was now moving like a prowling carnivore, feinting down one street a few blocks away and then changing its mind and slithering down a different avenue. —Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feint
  1. bluff
  2. disguise
  3. maneuver
  4. conceal
  5. camouflage
  6. mask
  7. feign
Noun
  • Downtown Bay Saint Louis has very little elevation, so many buildings were destroyed in Katrina though a small bluff protected some of the buildings located in the downtown area.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Republicans called his bluff and brought the bill to a vote, and even Rangel voted against it.
    — Deepti Hajela, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Definition of bluff
Verb
  • Of course, the sister’s lives face greater disruption when the alien Stitch enters their lives disguised as a dog, sabotaging Nani’s desperate attempts to get her life in order.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Khare, 32, changed into an elaborate old man disguise, complete with a latex mask, in a nearby phone booth before entering the premiere as a guest, as revealed in her TikTok and Instagram videos.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Definition of disguise
Noun
  • Netflix, meanwhile, executed two major succession maneuvers during the past 15 years: 2020’s announcement that Ted Sarandos would join founder Reed Hastings as co-CEO and then, when Hastings stepped aside in 2023, the ascension of COO Greg Peters as Sarandos’ co-CEO.
    — Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
  • Streaming platforms are eyeing creators in growth maneuvers.
    — Kristen Dolan, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of maneuver
Verb
  • On December 27, 1908, Boy Staunton (a literal boy, double-underlining Davies’s interest in archetypes) throws a snowball with a stone concealed in it at his friend Duncan.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
  • Millions of low-cost devices for media streaming, in-vehicle entertainment, and video projection are infected with malware that turns consumer networks into platforms for distributing malware, concealing nefarious communications, and performing other illicit activities, the FBI has warned.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • Still, these bras were comfortable, durable, and camouflaged well underneath clothes.
    — Michelle Rostamian, People.com, 22 May 2025
  • The short video shows a man and woman gliding across calm water on a paddleboard when an alligator, camouflaged along the bank, suddenly slips into the water just feet away.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Definition of camouflage
Verb
  • These threats masked any optimism from the U.S. and China continuing their trade talks.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 25 May 2025
  • Luckily grad school was in person; we were masked and testing every week.
    — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 25 May 2025
Definition of mask
Verb
  • Most of the other friends will feign interest and offer complimentary comments about the design.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
  • Pro Football Talk reported that a third player received a different sham call, this one feigning that he had been traded.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Definition of feign

Browse Nearby Words

feigns
feint
feinted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feint. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on feint

Nglish: Translation of feint for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All