knavery

[ ney-vuh-ree ]

noun

, plural knav·er·ies.

1. action or practice characteristic of a knave.
2. unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest dealing; trickery.
3. a knavish act or practice.

knavery

/ ˈneɪvərɪ /

noun

1. a deceitful or dishonest act
2. dishonest conduct; trickery

Word History and Origins

Origin of knavery¹

First recorded in 1520–30; knave + -ery

Example Sentences

Their core provisions were always unlikely to substantially affect turnout or election outcomes — and they were also mostly orthogonal to the weak spots in the electoral system that Trump’s knavery attempted to exploit.

From New York Times

From their study of English history, they learned what might be called the law of knavery: there aren’t any good ways to get rid of a bad king.

From The New Yorker

“I only know that it is mixed, that you cannot separate good from bad, that wisdom, courage and benevolence exist alongside knavery, greed and stupidity; heroism and fortitude alongside vainglory, cruelty and corruption.”

From New York Times

I wish for some way to warn Cristiana of the new king’s knavery.

From Literature

After years of deception, exploitation, and knavery, the Sixers have finally managed to buy and cheat their way to the entrance of the Third Gate.

From Literature

Related Words

• calamity
• catastrophe
• corruption
• crime
• harm
• hatred
• ill
• misery
• pain
• sin
• suffering
• wrong