Feint

Quick meaning: Feint is a noun meaning (often military) A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.

Meaning

(often military) A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.

More Meanings

1. (figuratively) Something feigned; a false or pretend appearance; a pretence or stratagem.
2. To direct a feint or mock attack against (someone).
3. (intransitive, boxing, fencing, also often military) To make a feint or mock attack.
4. (boxing, fencing, also often military) Of an attack or offensive movement: directed toward a different part from the intended strike.
5. (boxing, fencing) A blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.
6. To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.
7. (obsolete) Feigned, counterfeit, fake.

Example Sentences

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; […]

It is also possible to deliver a compound riposte by using an indirect feint. The attacking fencer would be open to a compound riposte following a successful parry by their opponent.

If you had fallen up against him (as some of them did), and stood there; he would have made a feint of endeavouring to seize you, which would have been an affront to your understanding; […]

Receiving no reply at all here, from the thoughtful man whom he addressed, Mr. William approached him nearer, and made a feint of accidentally knocking the table with a decanter, to rouse him.

Word Forms

• feints
• feinting
• feinted

Synonyms for feint

Depending on context, synonyms include juke.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include move, dummy, fake, deke, juke, pump fake.

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