TRICKY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for TRICKY?

Need another word that means the same as “tricky”? Find 32 synonyms and 30 related words for “tricky” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Tricky” are: catchy, slippery, crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy, wily, difficult, awkward, problematic, delicate, ticklish, sensitive, touchy, risky, uncertain, precarious, touch-and-go, artful, devious, scheming, deceitful, deceptive, duplicitous, dishonest, disingenuous, machiavellian

Tricky as an Adjective

Definitions of "Tricky" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “tricky” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Having concealed difficulty.
• Not to be trusted.
• Deceitful or crafty.
• (of a task, problem, etc.) requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward.
• Marked by skill in deception.
• Not to be trusted- James Agee.

Synonyms of "Tricky" as an adjective (32 Words)

artful	Clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning way. An artful photograph of a striking woman.
awkward	Not elegant or graceful in expression. His clumsy fingers produced an awkward knot.
catchy	Likely to attract attention. Catchy pop melodies.
crafty	Skilled at the making of decorative objects and other things by hand. A crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.
cunning	Having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion. A cunning look came into his eyes.
deceitful	Intended to deceive. Such an act would have been deceitful and irresponsible.
deceptive	Causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true. The deceptive calm in the eye of the storm.
delicate	(of colour) subtle and subdued. A delicate flavor.
devious	Showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve goals. A devious character.
difficult	Characterized by or causing hardships or problems. Lily could be difficult.
dishonest	Capable of being corrupted. Dishonest politicians.
disingenuous	Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness- David Cannadine. An ambitious disingenuous philistine and hypocritical operator who exemplified the most disagreeable traits of his time.
dodgy	Marked by skill in deception. Spurs dodgy defence had thrown away a 2 0 lead.
duplicitous	(of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation. A duplicitous philanderer.
foxy	Marked by skill in deception. A foxy lady.
guileful	Marked by skill in deception. A supremely guileful and deceptive politician.
knavish	Marked by skill in deception. His knavish tricks will be frustrated.
machiavellian	Of or relating to Machiavelli or the principles of conduct he recommended.
precarious	Affording no ease or reassurance. A precarious truce.
problematic	Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe. If you ever get married which seems to be extremely problematic.
risky	Involving risk or danger. Their risky patter made the guests laugh.
scheming	Concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest. They had mean scheming little minds.
sensitive	Easily damaged, injured, or distressed by slight changes. Sensitive to the local community and its needs.
slick	Made slick by e g ice or grease. A salesperson may be viewed as a slick confidence trickster.
slippery	(of a person) evasive and unpredictable; not to be relied on. The word intended is a decidedly slippery one.
sly	Showing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing. A sly sip of water.
ticklish	Difficult to handle; requiring great tact. Hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter.
touch-and-go	Functioning correctly and ready for action.
touchy	Easily upset or offended; oversensitive. The monarchy has become a touchy topic.
tricksy	Ingenious, intricate, or complicated. A tricksy little device.
uncertain	Not consistent or dependable. The weather is uncertain.
wily	Marked by skill in deception. His wily opponents.

Usage Examples of "Tricky" as an adjective

• I wouldn't trust her—she's tricky.
• Applying eyeliner can be a tricky business.
• A tricky recipe to follow.
• Tricky Dick.
• The radio is tricky to operate.

Associations of "Tricky" (30 Words)

appealing	Attractive or interesting. He added an appealing and memorable figure to popular American mythology.
artful	Clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning way. An artful photograph of a striking woman.
artfully	In a manner that shows creative skill or taste. Body scanners are turning up artfully concealed items.
astute	Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence. An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease.
burden	The central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse. They were not yet burdened with adult responsibility.
catchy	Likely to attract attention. Catchy pop melodies.
chicanery	The use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose. Storylines packed with political chicanery.
covert	(of a wife) being under the protection of her husband. Covert actions by the CIA.
crafty	Involving the making of decorative objects and other things by hand. They are looking for crafty people to join the group to make ornaments.
cunning	Having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion. Plants have evolved cunning defences.
difficult	Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand. A difficult child.
duplicity	A fraudulent or duplicitous representation. The president was accused of duplicity in his dealings with Congress.
elusive	Difficult to remember. A cabal of conspirators each more elusive than the archterrorist.
fraudulence	The quality of being fraudulent.
guile	Sly or cunning intelligence. He used all his guile and guts to free himself from the muddle he was in.
hard	Causing great damage or hardship. Took a hard look.
irresistibly	Incapable of being resisted. Their eyes were drawn irresistibly back to the house.
machiavellian	A follower of Machiavelli’s principles.
manipulative	Exercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation. She was sly selfish and manipulative.
onerous	Not easily borne; wearing. He found his duties increasingly onerous.
recall	An act or instance of officially recalling someone or something. He recalled how he felt at the time.
remember	Mention as by way of greeting or to indicate friendship. Remember me in your prayers.
secretive	(of a state or activity) characterized by the concealment of intentions and information. A secretive smile.
skulduggery	Verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way. A firm that investigates commercial skulduggery.
sly	(of an action) surreptitious. A sly manipulative woman.
slyly	In a cunning and deceitful or manipulative manner. He slyly manipulates votes.
subtle	(of a mixture or effect) delicately complex and understated. A subtle poison.
trickery	Verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way. The dealer resorted to trickery.
wile	The use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them. The devious wiles of the politicians.
wily	Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. His wily opponents.