subterfuge
7 synonyms and 1 antonym for subterfuge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A trick or deceptive scheme used to avoid something or achieve a hidden goal.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use subterfuge
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
resort to subterfuge
political subterfuge
through subterfuge
A fairly formal, literary word — everyday speech would more likely say "trick" or "deception."
Etymology
From Middle French subterfuge, from Medieval Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere ("to flee secretly"), from subter ("under, secretly") plus fugere ("to flee").
Full origin of subterfuge →Frequently asked questions
What does “subterfuge” mean?
The word “subterfuge” means a trick or deceptive scheme used to avoid something or achieve a hidden goal. In plain terms, sneaky trickery used to dodge a problem or hide the truth.
How do you pronounce “subterfuge”?
“Subterfuge” is pronounced SUHB-tuhr-fyoozh (/ˈsʌbtəɹˌfjuː(d)ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “subterfuge” in a sentence?
Here is “subterfuge” used in a sentence: “He resorted to subterfuge to avoid answering the committee's questions.”
What part of speech is “subterfuge”?
“Subterfuge” is a noun.
Where does the word “subterfuge” come from?
The word “subterfuge” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle French subterfuge, from Medieval Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere ("to flee secretly"), from subter ("under, secretly") plus fugere ("to flee").
