knavery

[ney-vuh-ree]

noun

plural

knaveries 

1. action or practice characteristic of a knave.

2. unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest dealing; trickery.

3. a knavish act or practice.

knavery

/ ˈneɪvərɪ /

noun

1. a deceitful or dishonest act

2. dishonest conduct; trickery

Word History and Origins

Origin of knavery¹

First recorded in 1520–30; knave + -ery

Example Sentences

Their core provisions were always unlikely to substantially affect turnout or election outcomes — and they were also mostly orthogonal to the weak spots in the electoral system that Trump’s knavery attempted to exploit.

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From their study of English history, they learned what might be called the law of knavery: there aren’t any good ways to get rid of a bad king.

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“I only know that it is mixed, that you cannot separate good from bad, that wisdom, courage and benevolence exist alongside knavery, greed and stupidity; heroism and fortitude alongside vainglory, cruelty and corruption.”

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I wish for some way to warn Cristiana of the new king’s knavery.

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After years of deception, exploitation, and knavery, the Sixers have finally managed to buy and cheat their way to the entrance of the Third Gate.

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Related Words

• calamity 
• catastrophe 
• corruption 
• crime 
• harm 
• hatred 
• ill 
• misery 
• pain 
• sin 
• suffering 
• wrong