'Stratagem' definitions:
Definition of 'stratagem'
(from WordNet)
noun
noun
An elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track" [syn: contrivance, stratagem, dodge]
Definition of 'Stratagem'
From: GCIDE
- Stratagem \Strat"a*gem\, n. [F. stratag[`e]me (cf. Sp. estratagema, It. stratagemma), L. strategema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to be leader of an army, fr. ? a general; ? an army (probably as being spread out; cf. Stratum) + ? to lead. See Agent.] An artifice or trick in war for deceiving the enemy; hence, in general, artifice; deceptive device; secret plot; evil machination. [1913 Webster]
- Fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Those oft are stratagems which error seem, Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'stratagem'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- action,
- ad hoc measure,
- alibi,
- answer,
- apology,
- art,
- artful dodge,
- artifice,
- bag of tricks,
- blind,
- bluff,
- bosey,
- cabal,
- catch,
- chicanery,
- chouse,
- cloak,
- collusion,
- color,
- complicity,
- complot,
- confederacy,
- connivance,
- conspiracy,
- contrivance,
- contriving,
- countermove,
- counterplot,
- coup,
- course of action,
- cover,
- cover story,
- cover-up,
- covin,
- craft,
- curve,
- curve-ball,
- cute trick,
- deceit,
- deep-laid plot,
- demarche,
- design,
- device,
- dirty deal,
- dirty trick,
- dodge,
- effort,
- engineering,
- excuse,
- expedient,
- facade,
- fakement,
- fast deal,
- feint,
- fetch,
- ficelle,
- finagling,
- finesse,
- frame-up,
- front,
- gambit,
- game,
- gimmick,
- gloss,
- googly,
- grift,
- guise,
- handle,
- hocus-pocus,
- improvisation,
- intrigue,
- joker,
- juggle,
- jugglery,
- jury-rig,
- jury-rigged expedient,
- knavery,
- lame excuse,
- last expedient,
- last resort,
- last shift,
- little game,
- locus standi,
- lure,
- machination,
- makeshift,
- maneuver,
- maneuvering,
- manipulation,
- mask,
- means,
- measure,
- move,
- ostensible motive,
- pass,
- pis aller,
- plan,
- play,
- plot,
- plotting,
- ploy,
- poor excuse,
- pretense,
- pretension,
- pretext,
- protestation,
- public motive,
- put-off,
- racket,
- red herring,
- refuge,
- resort,
- resource,
- rigging,
- ruse,
- scheme,
- schemery,
- scheming,
- screen,
- scurvy trick,
- semblance,
- shake-up,
- sham,
- shift,
- show,
- sleight,
- sleight of hand,
- sleight-of-hand trick,
- smoke screen,
- solution,
- stalking-horse,
- step,
- stopgap,
- strategy,
- stroke,
- stroke of policy,
- subterfuge,
- tactic,
- temporary expedient,
- trick,
- trickery,
- trump,
- underplot,
- varnish,
- veil,
- web of intrigue,
- wile,
- wily device,
- wire-pulling,
- working hypothesis,
- working proposition