wile
Americannoun
-
a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
- Synonyms:
- maneuver, contrivance, deception
-
wiles, artful or beguiling behavior.
- Synonyms:
- maneuver, contrivance, deception
-
deceitful cunning; trickery.
verb (used with object)
verb phrase
noun
-
trickery, cunning, or craftiness
-
(usually plural) an artful or seductive trick or ploy
verb
Synonym Usage
See trick.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of wile
1125–75; (noun) Middle English; late Old English wil, perhaps < Old Norse vēl artifice, earlier *wihl-
Explanation
The noun wile is good for describing a particular kind of deviousness, but its plural form is most commonly used. Your charming brother might use his wiles to talk your parents into loaning him money again and again. You can describe your cousin's knack for getting exactly what he wants through slyness and trickery as his wile. Language experts can only guess about the origin of wile, though many believe it's related to the Old Norse vél, or "craft." Others think there may be a connection with the Old English word for "wizard," wicca.
Vocabulary lists containing wile
Beowulf
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Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 7
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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.
Miura was third in the free skate to seize the last podium place with a total of 253.69 points wile Tomono, fifth in the free skate, was fourth with 251.46.
From Barron's • Nov. 2, 2025
Here are 10 freshly published ones that should wile away a March afternoon nicely.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023
The index of the economic outlook for the next 12 months slipped 0.4%, wile the outlook for the next five years climbed 5.2%.
From Reuters • Dec. 12, 2022
They will wile their way into your dreams.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2020
Though some dictionaries now accept “ wile away,” which began as a spelling error, I’ll stick to the original.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
