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Synonyms

tricky

American  
[trik-ee] / ˈtrɪk i /

adjective

trickier, trickiest

  1. given to or characterized by deceitful tricks; crafty; wily.

    Synonyms:
    shrewd, sly, artful

  2. skilled in clever tricks or dodges.

    Synonyms:
    adroit, skillful

  3. deceptive, uncertain, or difficult to deal with or handle.

    Synonyms:
    perilous, unreliable, unpredictable, doubtful
tricky British  
/ ˈtrɪkɪ /

adjective

  1. involving snags or difficulties

    a tricky job

  2. needing careful and tactful handling

    a tricky situation

  3. characterized by tricks; sly; wily

    a tricky dealer
"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

Other Word Forms

  • trickily adverb
  • trickiness noun

Etymology

Origin of tricky

First recorded in 1780–90; trick + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But on the other side are those who see the album as evidence of the tricky negotiations the documentary captures.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The entry into chip making also introduces some tricky dynamics with current licensing customers that make their own data-center CPUs.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

But working out details, including staffing, even for this minimalist remedy, is tricky.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

There are also strict dollar limits on contributions and tricky rules regarding distributions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Genies could be tricky, and so could parents, it seemed!

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.