The enemy somehow got word of the stratagem.
Source: tatoeba (8718476)
Stratagem
/ˈstɹæt.ə.d͡ʒəm/
Synonyms for "stratagem" (190 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Noun(3 words)
actionad hoc measurealibianswerapologyartartful dodgeartificebag of tricksblindbluffboseycabalcatchchicanechicanerychousecloakcollusioncolor
Show 15 more words
complicitycomplotconfederacyconnivanceconspiracycontrivancecontrivingcountermovecounterplotcoupcourse of actioncovercover storycover upcover-up
Strong matches (57)
Related words (95)
last expedientlast resortlast shiftlittle gamelocus standiluremachinationmakeshiftmaneuvermaneuveringmanipulationmanoeuvremaskmeansmeans to an endmeasuremoveostensible motivepasspis aller
Show 63 more words
planplayplotplottingploypoor excusepratpretensepretensionpretextprotestationpublic motiveput offput-offracketred herringrefugeresortresourceriggingruseschemeschemeryschemingscreenscurvy tricksemblanceshake upshake-upshamshenaniganshiftshowsleightsleight of handsleight-of-hand tricksmoke screensolutionstalking horsestalking-horsestallstepstopgapstrategystrokestroke of policysubterfugetactictemporary expedienttraptricktrickerytrumpunderplotvarnishveilweb of intriguewilewily devicewire pullingwire-pullingworking hypothesisworking proposition
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ploy, action, ad hoc measure, alibi, answer.
- Sentence evidence is available for stratagem, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
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 "stratagem".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "stratagem"
Keep "stratagem" 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 "stratagem" 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 "stratagem", 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 "stratagem" 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
8 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesclever stratagemcunning stratagemingenious stratagemmilitary stratagempolitical stratagemrhetorical stratagem
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
60 translations across 30 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- στρατήγημα noun (tactic)
Bulgarian
2 entries- уловка noun (tactic)
- хитрина noun (tactic)
Catalan
1 entries- estratagema noun (tactic)
Chinese Cantonese
4 entries- 伎倆 /伎俩 noun (tactic)
- 戰略 /战略 noun (tactic)
- 策略 noun (tactic)
- 花招 noun (tactic)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 伎倆 /伎俩 noun (tactic)
Danish
2 entries- krigslist noun (tactic)
- taktik noun (tactic)
Dutch
1 entries- krijgslist noun (tactic)
Estonian
2 entries- kavalus noun (tactic)
- sõjakavalus noun (tactic)
Finnish
3 entries- juoni noun (tactic)
- petos noun (tactic)
- salajuoni noun (tactic)
French
1 entries- stratagème noun (tactic)
German
3 entries- Kriegslist noun (tactic)
- Stratagem noun (tactic)
- Strategem noun (tactic)
Greek
1 entries- στρατήγημα noun (tactic)
Hungarian
1 entries- hadicsel noun (tactic)
Indonesian
2 entries- muslihat noun (tactic)
- siasat noun (tactic)
Irish
1 entries- beart noun (tactic)
Italian
3 entries- schema noun (tactic)
- stratagemma noun (tactic)
- tattica noun (tactic)
Japanese
3 entries- 策略 noun (tactic)
- 計略 noun (tactic)
- 謀略 noun (tactic)
Korean
2 entries- 계략 noun (tactic)
- 계책 noun (tactic)
Latin
2 entries- stratēgēma noun (tactic)
- sūtēla noun (tactic)
Māori
2 entries- nuka noun (tactic)
- rauhanga noun (tactic)
Norwegian
2 entries- krigslist noun (tactic)
- list noun (tactic)
Ottoman Turkish
2 entries- اورند noun (tactic)
- حیله noun (tactic)
Polish
3 entries- chwyt noun (tactic)
- fortel noun (tactic)
- zagrywka noun (tactic)
Portuguese
2 entries- estratagema noun (tactic)
- maquinação noun (tactic)
Russian
4 entries- стратаге́ма noun (tactic)
- уло́вка noun (tactic)
- ухищре́ние noun (tactic)
- хи́трость noun (tactic)
Spanish
2 entries- estratagema noun (tactic)
- trafique noun (tactic)
Swedish
1 entries- krigslist noun (tactic)
Thai
1 entries- ชั้นเชิง noun (tactic)
Turkish
2 entries- harp hilesi noun (tactic)
- savaş hilesi noun (tactic)
Ukrainian
2 entries- трюк noun (tactic)
- хитрість noun (tactic)
Sample sentences
8 total sentences available.
Some regard Monsanto's lawsuits as a stratagem to impose costly delays on Argentine soy meal exports to Europe, and thereby pressure the Argentine government to change its seed laws to suit the company.
Source: tatoeba (11857263)
By a daring, but treacherous stratagem, Pizarro got possession of the king, who had come by invitation on a friendly visit.
Source: tatoeba (11857317)
Near-synonyms: ploy, ruse
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 8 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "stratagem"?
Closest matches include ploy, action, ad hoc measure, alibi, answer.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "stratagem"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.