noun

guile

GYLE/ɡaɪl/

Clever trickery used to deceive others.

The con artist uses guile to win his victims' trust.

A shell-game operator invites a player to choose among three overturned cups while secretly concealing the game's small red ball below the table edge.

Etymology

Old French guile covered both deceit and a ruse or trick. The modern sense preserves that connection between deception and the crafty means used to carry it out.

In context

Storytime Haven101:48

“Because he was gentle,” cried Nigel, “because he had no thought of trick or guile.”

Sir Nigel ⚔️🌟 | A Tale of Chivalry and Adventure | Arthur Conan Doyle

More examples

With charm and guile, she tricks us into doing her work.
His innocent questions hide a good deal of guile.
She answers without guile, unaware that the truth might offend him.

Forms

guile

guileful adjective — Using clever tricks to deceive others.

guileless adjective — Honest and free from deceptive intentions.

Similar words

cunning: Emphasizes clever planning and can describe skill without deception.
deceit: Covers dishonesty generally, without necessarily implying cleverness or subtlety.
trickery: Emphasizes deceptive acts or methods rather than the cleverness behind them.