Ruse

/ɹuːz/ · noun

Meaning

(countable, often hunting, archaic, rare) A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable, often hunting, archaic, rare) A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs.
2. (countable, by extension) An action intended to deceive; a trick.
3. (uncountable) Cunning, guile, trickery.
4. (intransitive) To deceive or trick using a ruse.
5. (intransitive, hunting, archaic, rare) Of an animal: to turn or double back to elude hunters or their hunting dogs.

Example Sentences

The boar was evidently most averse to leave the field in which he had spent so may pleasant hours of uninterrupted rest; […] He turned sharply to one flank; he stopped dead, and went away in the opposite direction as he heard the hunters gallop past; every ruse he tried, but tried in vain.

Near-synonyms: ploy, stratagem

It must be borne in mind that huntsmen sometimes make casts which they know must lose them their fox: […] At the same time, it would be bad policy to explain these little matters: some parties, who are not sufficiently acquainted with the management of hounds, might be discontented, whereas by such a ruse no offence is given, as nine-tenths of the Field are not aware that it is not the most likely cast to recover the scent.

He was soon upon his feet, another assegai whistled through the air, and pierced through the neck of the lioness. But, as before, the wound was not fatal, and the animal, now enraged to a frenzy, charged once more upon her assailant. So rapid was her advance that it was with great difficulty Congo got under cover. A moment later, and his ruse would have failed, for the claws of the lion rattled upon the shield as it descended.

I have that strong impression on my mind that a person who is guilty of a ruse will hesitate at no falsehood. If it was a ruse, and if it was a deceit, you are to judge whether that elevates the persons in your mind who are parties to that trick.

Soon, however, Courvoisier forced matters, when, despairing of ever catching the wily outlaw leader by fair means, he resorted to the ruse of carrying off Friar Tuck of Copmanhurst and holding him as a hostage.

Warships, whether surface or submarine, may use ruses and strategems. They may sail under false flags, both enemy and neutral, but before going into action whether at sea or if about to attack a land target they must strike any false colours and raise their own battle colours. It would be perfidy for them to use the red cross or crescent or any other protected emblem in this way.

The terminological distinction between reproductive and therapeutic cloning is a semantic ruse, as every instance of human cloning is a true reproducive act. That is to say, the intended purpose of this research is to produce a new human being with human embryonic stem cells.

Synonyms for ruse

Antonyms for ruse

Related Words

Word Forms

• ruses
• rusing
• rused

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions