ruse

¹

[rooz]

noun

1. a trick, stratagem, or artifice.

Ruse

²

[roo-sey]

noun

1. a city in N Bulgaria, on the Danube.

Ruse

¹

/ ˈruːseɪ /

noun

1. a city in NE Bulgaria, on the River Danube: the chief river port and one of the largest industrial centres in Bulgaria. Pop: 172 000 (2005 est)

ruse

²

/ ruːz /

noun

1. an action intended to mislead, deceive, or trick; stratagem

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruse¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun use of obsolete rusen to detour) < Middle French, derivative of ruser to retreat. See rush ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruse¹

C15: from Old French: trick, esp to evade capture, from ruser to retreat, from Latin recūsāre to refuse

Synonym Study

See trick.

Example Sentences

The court heard he used the lure of designer handbag brand Hermes as a ruse to trick people into giving him the money.

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Woods alleged Caden did this to “continue the ruse,” adding that authorities believe, “There is zero chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of an assailant.”

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Her ruse is certainly not persuasive to anyone outside of the GOP voting base.

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Clearly a ruse for yet another Pride parade or Latin American gang invasion.

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And he called complaints that the city should have required an environmental impact report “a ruse,” saying the project simply did not meet the requirements established by the state.

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Related Words

• feint 
• game plan 
• gimmick 
• hoax 
• ploy 
• sham 
• stratagem 
• stunt 
• subterfuge