1
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party
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2
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun
wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ploy
From David Makovsky: Trump's Gaza Plan Is a Clever Negotiation Tactic
The question is whether Trump's idea about Gaza is a plan or a ploy.
—
Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
In the longer term, Trump’s ploy to improve the federal workforce could adversely affect productivity if workers who are least qualified to find alternative employment are most likely to stay behind in search of employment stability.
—Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
In recent years, however, with the cost of a national Big Game campaign rising significantly, some of Madison Avenue’s top denizens have tested the ploy.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
The viral claim about Trader Joe's offering $750 gift cards has become the latest ploy targeting unsuspecting consumers.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ploy 
Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
In the longer term, Trump’s ploy to improve the federal workforce could adversely affect productivity if workers who are least qualified to find alternative employment are most likely to stay behind in search of employment stability.
—Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
In recent years, however, with the cost of a national Big Game campaign rising significantly, some of Madison Avenue’s top denizens have tested the ploy.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
The viral claim about Trader Joe's offering $750 gift cards has become the latest ploy targeting unsuspecting consumers.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ploy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ploy
Noun
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Matty, for her part, isn’t worried about getting in any real trouble if her ruse is uncovered.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
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But some of the writers fell for the alleged ruse, which eventually involved the literary agent from a company called PageTurner Press & Media asking for advance payments for services such as book insurance, hiring editors to help update the book or hiring publicists to promote it.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The early years of the pandemic saw a massive hiring spree in tech, fueled in part by shifting consumer spending habits amid lockdowns.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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Los Angeles then doubled down with another spending spree, adding, retaining or extending pricey players like Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, Michael Conforto, Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández and Clayton Kershaw, among others.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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What’s needed now are more flexible funding schemes and opportunities that will allow Latvian productions to be competitive on the global market.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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When Tony White left after the regular season for Florida State, Nebraska lost a defensive tactician and a coordinator who brought an effective scheme to the Blackshirts.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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If the fashion on the sidelines wasn't enough to hype up attendees, a lively dance performance to kick off the runway show did the trick.—
Anika Reed,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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If not, now's the time to add it to your arsenal of emergency hair tricks.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ploy
Cite this Entry
“Ploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ploy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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