tricky

adjective

ˈtri-kē How to pronounce tricky (audio)
Definition of trickynext
1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling a tricky musical passage for the woodwind section

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means he's a tricky one, so be careful when dealing with him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tricky distinct from other similar adjectives?

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.

a tricky political operative

When can artful be used instead of tricky?

While the synonyms artful and tricky are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When is it sensible to use crafty instead of tricky?

While in some cases nearly identical to tricky, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When might cunning be a better fit than tricky?

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 cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for tricky?

The synonyms foxy and tricky are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is slick a more appropriate choice than tricky?

In some situations, the words slick and tricky are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When could sly be used to replace tricky?

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.

a sly corporate raider

Where would wily be a reasonable alternative to tricky?

The meanings of wily and tricky largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 tricky But that was tricky because officials had trouble figuring out what a female homosexual might be. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 6 Apr. 2025 With both union and auto leaders ranging anywhere from muted to supportive of the tariffs, the politics of the issue are tricky for Dems in the state. —Stephen Neukam, Axios, 4 Apr. 2025 Weaker growth and higher prices are a tricky combination for the Fed. —Time, 4 Apr. 2025 Maintaining authenticity is tricky when consumers are highly skeptical of marketing claims. —Max Avery, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tricky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricky
  1. difficult
  2. cunning
  3. tough
  4. cute
  5. sensitive
  6. subtle
  7. problematic
  8. deceptive
Adjective
  • Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).
    — Christian Lewis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Unlike Mitch McConnell, the taciturn and cunning leader at the time, Thune genuinely tried to answer questions.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
  • But what Neil is accused of is something well beyond cunning or perfidy or faithlessness, well beyond questionable morality.
    — Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • If a tough memory comes up, imagine your adult self swooping in to take care of your child self.
    — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 4 Apr. 2025
  • That’s likely a tough pill to swallow for Gomez, who typically launches her albums at No. 1.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Plus, shop cute styles for brunch with friends or date night.
    — Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • This cute upstairs cafe at the English Market is a great choice for tea, cakes or lunch.
    — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.
    — Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Adding peas introduces a subtle sweetness and pop of freshness, balancing the richness of the eggs and bacon.
    — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Mulaney’s approach to social commentary on his show is even more subtle; sometimes, concentrating a sketch on a character like Willy Loman is enough.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Building a Sustainable Future Compression of organizational hierarchies isn't inherently problematic, but the failure to address the human and operational needs that middle managers traditionally meet certainly is.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • This is especially problematic if, in these precarious times, their contacts are all similar to them.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of problematic
Adjective
  • However, when adjusted for inflation, real prices in Turkey have dropped by 10.4 percent, illustrating how price growth can be deceptive without factoring in inflation.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Had these assessments been conducted, issues like algorithmic bias, content manipulation and deceptive AI practices would have been flagged before litigators intervened.
    — Patrick Sullivan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of deceptive

Browse Nearby Words

tricksy
tricky
tricolor
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Cite this Entry

“Tricky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricky. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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