trickster

[ trik-ster ]

noun

1. a deceiver; cheat; fraud.
2. a person who plays tricks.
3. a supernatural figure appearing in various guises and typically engaging in mischievous activities, important in the folklore and mythology of many primitive peoples and usually conceived as a culture hero.

trickster

/ ˈtrɪkstə /

noun

1. a person who deceives or plays tricks

Other Words From

• trickster·ing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trickster¹

First recorded in 1705–15; trick + -ster

Example Sentences

Matt Sanchez, president and general manager of Yahoo Home Ecosystem, said the company is just trying to stay a step ahead of the tricksters.

From Los Angeles Times

To them, Harris is some type of racial trickster who inherently cannot be trusted to lead the country.

From Salon

Wide-eyed, wild-haired, and disheveled, Keaton's crusty trickster still invokes the patron demon of late-stage crack addiction, bringing with him the same wily unpredictability that made him such a hoot last time.

From Salon

Her campaign signs were defaced with racial slurs, and Nixon’s dirty tricksters tried to smear her reputation in a secret campaign that they brazenly code-named “Operation COAL.”

From Los Angeles Times

The former excels at playing the earthy, sly, seductive trickster, the latter, the pompous, self-important rich boy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• con artist