tricky

[trik-ee]

adjective, trick·i·er, trick·i·est.

given to or characterized by deceitful tricks; crafty; wily.
skilled in clever tricks or dodges.
deceptive, uncertain, or difficult to deal with or handle.

Origin of tricky

First recorded in 1780–90; trick + -y¹

Related formstrick·i·ly, adverbtrick·i·ness, noun

Synonyms

1. artful, sly, shrewd. 2. skillful, adroit. 3. doubtful, unpredictable, unreliable, perilous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for trickiest

Contemporary Examples

The trickiest items having been placed in the “freezer” to be addressed at a later date.
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?
Richard McColl
December 18, 2014
The Saul story was in some ways the trickiest story for us this season.
‘Homeland’ Creator Talks Season 4’s ‘Reboot,’ Life After Brody, and How ISIS Will Affect the Show
Marlow Stern
October 6, 2014
But this year being in Scotland presents one of the trickiest problems of her reign.
Queen Victoria’s Secret Scottish Sex Castle
Clive Irving
August 17, 2014
They had all fulfilled the trickiest of American dreams: They had gone for Olympic gold and won … bronze.
What’s a Key to Victory in Sochi? Coming So Close to Defeat.
Kevin Bleyer
February 23, 2014
So weaving a story where you can see these guys together enough was the trickiest part.
Grant Heslov Is the Robin to George Clooney’s Batman
Andrew Romano
February 7, 2014

Historical Examples

And woman is so much cleverer than the trickiest man at beguiling!
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930
Various
His life was spent in the company of these radicals, and he could call them forth out of their trickiest hiding-places.
Literary Tours in The Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Daniel Turner Holmes
Here we are flying visual contact through some of the trickiest mountains I've ever seen.
The Golden Skull
John Blaine
It is not alone that anything of the kind is so horrible but he is one of the trickiest swordsmen here.
The Monster
Edgar Saltus
"I think it's the damnedest, trickiest, most unilateral piece of legalistics I've ever seen," Kennon said bluntly.
The Lani People
J. F. Bone

British Dictionary definitions for trickiest

tricky

adjective trickier or trickiest

involving snags or difficultiesa tricky job
needing careful and tactful handlinga tricky situation
characterized by tricks; sly; wilya tricky dealer

Derived Formstrickily, adverbtrickiness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for trickiest

tricky

adj.

1786, "characterized by tricks," from trick (n.) + -y (2). Meaning "deceptively difficult" is from 1868. Related: Trickily; trickiness. Earlier was tricksy (1590s).

tricky

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}tricky

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for trickiest

Contemporary Examples

The trickiest items having been placed in the “freezer” to be addressed at a later date.

The Saul story was in some ways the trickiest story for us this season.

But this year being in Scotland presents one of the trickiest problems of her reign.

They had all fulfilled the trickiest of American dreams: They had gone for Olympic gold and won … bronze.

So weaving a story where you can see these guys together enough was the trickiest part.

Historical Examples

And woman is so much cleverer than the trickiest man at beguiling!

His life was spent in the company of these radicals, and he could call them forth out of their trickiest hiding-places.

Here we are flying visual contact through some of the trickiest mountains I've ever seen.

It is not alone that anything of the kind is so horrible but he is one of the trickiest swordsmen here.

"I think it's the damnedest, trickiest, most unilateral piece of legalistics I've ever seen," Kennon said bluntly.

tricky

Word Origin and History for trickiest

tricky

adj.

Origin of tricky