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- DictionaryTrick·y/ˈtrikē/
adjective
- 1. (of a task, problem, or situation) requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward: "applying eyeliner can be a tricky business"
Synonyms for TRICKY: difficult, tough, sensitive, problematic, problematical, complicated, sticky, hard; Antonyms of TRICKY: easy, simple, straightforward, manageable, uncomplicated, effortless, painless, unproblematic.
- How is the word 'tricky' distinct from other similar adjectives?Some common synonyms of tricky are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain...
- When can 'artful' be used instead of 'tricky'?While the synonyms artful and tricky are close in meaning, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness....
- When is it sensible to use 'crafty' instead of 'tricky'?While in some cases nearly identical to tricky, crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. // a crafty lefthander
- When might 'cunning' be a better fit than 'tricky'?The words cunning and tricky can be used in similar contexts, but cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreach...
- When would 'foxy' be a good substitute for 'tricky'?The synonyms foxy and tricky are sometimes interchangeable, but foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. // a f...
- When is 'slick' a more appropriate choice than 'tricky'?In some situations, the words slick and tricky are roughly equivalent. However, slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. // slick operators selling t...
- When could 'sly' be used to replace 'tricky'?The words sly and tricky are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one'...
- Where would 'wily' be a reasonable alternative to 'tricky'?The meanings of wily and tricky largely overlap; however, wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. // the wily fugitive escaped the posse
(of a piece of work or a problem) difficult to deal with and needing careful attention or skill: Removing scar tissue can be a very tricky operation. tricky adjective (DECEIVING) likely to deceive people: He’s a tricky fellow – you can’t always trust him.
1. : inclined to or marked by trickery. 2. a. : giving a deceptive impression of easiness, simplicity, or order : ticklish. a tricky path through the swamp. b. : trick sense 2. 3. : requiring skill, knack, or caution (as in doing or handling) : difficult. a tricky problem. also : ingenious. a tricky rhythm. trickily. ˈtri-kə-lē. adverb. trickiness.
If a piece of work or problem is tricky, it is difficult to deal with and needs careful attention or skill: It's tricky to learn to ride a skateboard, but you never forget how. I'm in a tricky situation - whatever I do I'll offend someone. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples.
deceptive, uncertain, or difficult to deal with or handle. Synonyms: perilous, unreliable, unpredictable, doubtful. tricky. / ˈtrɪkɪ / adjective. involving snags or difficulties. a tricky job. needing careful and tactful handling. a tricky situation. characterized by tricks; sly; wily. a tricky dealer. Discover More. Derived Forms.
having concealed difficulty. “a tricky recipe to follow”. synonyms: catchy. difficult, hard. not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure. adjective. marked by skill in deception. synonyms: crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy, wily. artful.
Go to the thesaurus article about these synonyms and antonyms of tricky. Learn more. Someone or something that is not easy to deal with or understand is difficult. Cambridge English Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press.
