1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
it's a bit tricksy to have a candid conversation with the company president without appearing to be either presumptuous or obsequious
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a tricksy provocateur who will make the most outrageous statements just to get a reaction
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Recent Examples of tricksy
Such films sometimes feel like tricksy technical experiments.
—
The Economist, 18 June 2020
The Economist, 18 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tricksy
Adjective
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Two of Elissa’s tumors were obliterated that day, but the third was too difficult to reach without repositioning Elissa’s body in a way that would have taken too much time under anesthesia.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
-
Luca Solca sector head for global luxury goods at Bernstein Clouding the picture further, many other premium Swiss watchmakers including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, are privately owned, making their performance difficult to decipher.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Two decades on, Stitch ranks among Disney’s most ubiquitous characters — especially from a merchandising perspective, as that mischievous mug of his can be seen on backpacks, plush toys, T-shirts and, well, mugs of all sizes.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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Sure there might be a mischievous mouse-deer stealing fruit from an orangutan, but once the mystery is solved, the two animals comprise on how to share—no harm or conflict intended.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
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Dapple Baby takes this task very seriously, offering a fragrance-free formula that’s tough on stains yet gentle on newborn skin.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
This one says that offshore holding companies are wicked and should be penalized.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
One scene in the school pool does a particularly wicked job of emphasizing Ducournau’s strengths, as the director makes a visceral, bloody spectacle of Alpha’s social pariah status.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Security clearance requirements limit the most sensitive jobs to U.S. citizens.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Even benchmarks can be misleading, since outcomes are highly sensitive to the types of tasks included.—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
The two then engaged in playful flirtation that escalated into a steamy encounter in another stall.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
18 May 2025
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Plus, the playful green shade will add a pop of color to any summer travel wardrobe.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
My work centers Native characters who are fully human: messy, funny, complicated.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 May 2025
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The result is a mosaic of broods that makes the jigsaw puzzle of periodical cicada distribution more complicated, but more interesting.—
Chris Simon,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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This is potentially problematic to some U.S. analysts, given Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s close ties with China.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 May 2025
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The president’s high-profile and problematic approach to deportation, while politically popular with his constituency, costs a lot of money.—
Veronique de Rugy,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tricksy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tricksy. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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