chicanery

American  

[shi-key-nuh-ree, chi-] / ʃɪˈkeɪ nə ri, tʃɪ- /

noun

PLURAL

chicaneries

1. trickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry.

   He resorted to the worst flattery and chicanery to win the job.

   Synonyms:

   knavery , deception , fraud

2. a quibble or subterfuge used to trick, deceive, or evade.

   Synonyms:

   evasion

---

chicanery British  

/ ʃɪˈkeɪnərɪ /

noun

1. verbal deception or trickery, esp in legal quibbling; dishonest or sharp practice

2. a trick, deception, or quibble

---

Etymology

Origin of chicanery

From the French word chicanerie, dating back to 1605–15. See chicane, -ery

Example Sentences

“The Baron of Wall Street” proclaims that Dillon—not alone in his era—enriched himself through “chicanery, subterfuge, and graft.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The likelihood, I’m told, of the press moving out increased after Cheung accused us of chicanery.

From Salon

Forever Young was almost the victim of some legal chicanery on Saturday as trainer Chad Brown entered a horse — called a rabbit — with little chance to win so that he could set a fast pace.

From Los Angeles Times

The investor who foresaw the collapse of Enron, he has one of the most sensitive noses for financial chicanery — and the ebbs and flows of investor credulence — in the business.

From Los Angeles Times

In retrospect, the “Conor” moment in the Oval Office on March 12 looks like a set-up — or, more to the point, like a devious and especially petty work of MAGA-world chicanery.

From Salon

Related Words

• dishonesty
• duplicity
• machination
• stratagem