Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for stratagem

stratagem

[ strat-uh-juhm ]

noun

  1. a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.
  2. any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor:

    business stratagems.

    Synonyms: contrivance, maneuver, device, intrigue, deception



stratagem

/ ˈstrætɪdʒəm /

noun

  1. a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Other Words From

  • strat·a·gem·i·cal [strat-, uh, -, jem, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
  • strata·gemi·cal·ly adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem1

1480–90; (< Middle French stratageme ) < Italian stratagemma war ruse < Latin stratēgēma < Greek stratḗgēma instance of generalship, derivative of stratēgeîn to be in command, derivative of stratēgós military commander ( strategy )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem1

C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead
Discover More

Synonym Study

See trick.
Discover More

Example Sentences

“Texas has employed an array of stratagems designed to shield its unconstitutional law from judicial review,” Roberts wrote.

This was the stratagem of leftists everywhere for a long, long time.

Mao was a master of the ancient Empty City Stratagem, which seeks to conceal weakness with a show of confidence, even aggression.

The stratagem worked, because the ships went about from one tack to the other without being seen by the Dutch.

But I always suspected it was a stratagem on his part to avoid playing, and that nothing really ailed him.

Aunty Rosa had credited him in the past with petty cunning and stratagem that had never entered into his head.

Lady Arabella Seymour escaped from confinement in the tower of London by stratagem.

Rabelais was not more cunning when he hit upon his stratagem for getting carried to Paris.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


stratastratal