Definition

1. Noun:
   • A deceptive strategy or device used to conceal one's true motives or to avoid blame or difficulty: "Subterfuge" refers to a trick or dishonest method employed to achieve a goal, often by hiding the real purpose of an action.
   • An artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, or gain an advantage: It describes a clever plan or trick used to get around something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • His sudden illness was a mere subterfuge to avoid the meeting.
  • The company used accounting subterfuges to hide its losses from investors.
  • She saw through his subterfuge and realized he was lying.

Advanced Usage

• "A web of subterfuge": A complex series of interconnected deceptions.
  • The spy novel involved a tangled web of subterfuge and double agents.
• "To resort to subterfuge": To turn to using deceptive methods.
  • When questioned directly, he resorted to subterfuge instead of telling the truth.

Variants and Related Words

• Subterfuges (n): The plural form of subterfuge.
  • Their plan was full of elaborate subterfuges.

Synonyms

• Deception: The act of deceiving someone.
• Trickery: The practice of deception.
• Ruse: A cunning plan or action designed to deceive.
• Pretense: An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.
• Evasion: The action of evading something, especially a direct question or duty.

Related Phrases

• A subterfuge for (something): A deceptive method serving as a cover for something else.
  • The charity event was a subterfuge for their political fundraising.

Related Idioms

• "Under the subterfuge of": While pretending to be doing one thing in order to hide the real activity.
  • He accessed the files under the subterfuge of performing a system audit.

Noun

1. something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
   • he wasn't sick--it was just a subterfuge
   • the holding company was just a blind