Mary would feint innocence, pretending she had turned in her assignments when in actuality she hadn't completed them.
Source: tatoeba (10797695)
Feint
/feɪnt/
Synonyms for "feint" (224 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (45)
actingaerial tacticsaffectationairborne tacticsalibiapologyappearanceapplied tacticsarmored tacticsartartful dodgeartificeattitudinizingbag of tricksbarrier tacticsbefoolingblindbluffbluffingbosey
Show 21 more words
catchcavalry tacticscheatcheatingchicanechicanerychousecloakcolorcoloringcommendcomplimentcongratulateconspiracycontemncontrivancecounterfeitcoupcovercover storycover up
Noun(4 words)
Strong matches (67)
cover-upcraftcurvecurve-ballcutcute trickdeceitdeceptiondefensive strategydelusiondesigndevicedirty dealdirty trickdisguisedissemblancedissemblingdissimulationdistractiondiversion
Adjective(1 words)
fainting spell
Related words (112)
hithoaxhocus pocushocus-pocushome thrusthoodwinkinghumbughumbuggeryimpostureinfantry tacticsinfiltrationintrigueinvestmentjabjigjokerjugglejuggleryknaverylame excuse
Show 78 more words
let fly atlittle gamelocus standilungemake-believemaneuvermaskmasquerademeretriciousnessmob tacticsmobile tacticsmoveostensible motiveostentationoutward showpasspincers movementplayplayactingplotploypokepoor excuseposeposingposturepretensepretensionpretextprotestationpublic motiveput offput-offracketrecommendred herringrefugerepresentationresortrusesaluteschemescreenscurvy trickseemingsemblanceshamshiftshock tacticsshowsimulacrumsimulationsleightsleight of handsleight-of-hand tricksmoke screenspeciousnessstabstalking horsestalking-horsestratagemstrategystrike outsubterfugeswingtactictacticstake a crack atthrusttraptricktrickeryvarnishveilwhizzerwilewily devicewindow dressing
Noun(12 words)
Verb(2 words)
outmaneuverstage a hoax
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acting, aerial tactics, affectation, airborne tactics, alibi.
- Sentence evidence is available for feint, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "feint".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "feint"
Keep "feint" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "feint" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "feint", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "feint" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
9 entriesbody feintfeint of disinterestfeint of ignorancefencing feintleft feintlunging feintpolitical feintright feintsocial feint
Collocations
9 entriesfeint attackfeint gesturefeint in fencingfeint movefeint movementfeint to misleadfeint to the leftfeint to the rightleft feint
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
Mary made a feint to Tom's right, then struck a blow of her sword to his left arm.
Source: tatoeba (11831017)
In October, Friburg had been taken by a Feint of the Duke of Crequi, before the Duke of Lorrain cou'd come to relieve it; […]
Source: wiktionary
Nothing could be more uncertain than the intentions of the French marshal [André Masséna], and Lord Wellington [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington] felt, that by an incautious movement, his army must be seriously committed—Massena's retreat might only be a feint to draw the allies from their position—while by turning Monte Junta, he might make a sudden rush on Torres Vedras.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "feint"?
Closest matches include acting, aerial tactics, affectation, airborne tactics, alibi.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "feint"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.