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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Trickster

/ˈtɹɪk.stə/ · noun

Meaning

(mythology, literature) Any of numerous figures featuring in various mythologies and folk traditions, who use guile and secret knowledge to challenge authority and play tricks and pranks on others with their acts of trickery; any similar figure in literature..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (mythology, literature) Any of numerous figures featuring in various mythologies and folk traditions, who use guile and secret knowledge to challenge authority and play tricks and pranks on others with their acts of trickery; any similar figure in literature.
  2. One who plays tricks or pranks on others.
  3. One who performs tricks (parts of a magician act or entertainingly difficult physical actions).
  4. An impish or playful person.
  5. A fraud or cheat (person who performs a trick or hoax full of falsehoods for the purpose of unlawful gain).
  6. (intransitive) To engage in the antics of a trickster; to play tricks.

Example Sentences

1991, Alan R. Velie (compiler and editor), American Indian Literature: An Anthology, Revised edition, page 44, The trickster is one of the oldest and most widespread of mythological and literary figures. […] As the name implies, the trickster is, on one level—probably the most important—an amoral practical joker who wanders about playing pranks on unsuspecting victims […] With all the fluctuations, certain things about the trickster are predictable: he is always a wanderer, always hungry, and usually oversexed. Tricksters abound in folktales […] .
And let us begin with those sympathetic elements, the tricksters who obtain the lovers and the land, always at the expense of fools and knaves, sometimes at the expense of other tricksters.
A skilled trickster knows how to outsmart their enemies with ease.
Our fellow trickster will perform some impressive magic tricks tonight.
That shady trickster faked being a psychic advisor to spread misinformation and gain profit.
She's easy game for a trickster like him.

Synonyms for trickster

prankstertrickertrepandeceiverpractical jokercheathoaxercheater

Antonyms for trickster

Related Words

hoaxerdeceiverpranksterpractical jokercheatercheatphonycheatingjokerbetrayerjokefraudroguetraitorhustlercrookfoxshifterbrer rabbitgypster

Word Forms

Usage Notes

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does trickster mean?

Trickster means (mythology, literature) Any of numerous figures featuring in various mythologies and folk traditions, who use guile and secret knowledge to challenge authority and play tricks and pranks on others with their acts of trickery; any similar figure in literature..

What is a synonym for trickster?

Common synonyms include prankster, tricker, trepan, deceiver.

What is the opposite of trickster?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use trickster in a sentence?

1991, Alan R. Velie (compiler and editor), American Indian Literature: An Anthology, Revised edition, page 44, The trickster is one of the oldest and most widespread of mythological and literary figures. […] As the name implies, the trickster is, on one level—probably the most important—an amoral practical joker who wanders about playing pranks on unsuspecting victims […] With all the fluctuations, certain things about the trickster are predictable: he is always a wanderer, always hungry, and usually oversexed. Tricksters abound in folktales […] .

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.