Tricky (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Having concealed difficulty; "a catchy question"; "a tricky recipe to follow".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The recipe seemed simple at first, but the cake proved to be a tricky dessert to perfect.
- Her boss was notorious for asking tricky interview questions to gauge the candidates' thinking.
- The hiking trail looked straightforward on the map, but the actual route turned out to be tricky and involved some steep climbing.
- This puzzle has a tricky solution that requires lateral thinking to solve.
- The magician's assistant was aware of the tricky timing required to pull off the illusion.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Marked by skill in deception; "cunning men often pass for wise"; "deep political machinations"; "a foxy scheme"; "a slick evasive answer"; "sly as a fox"; "tricky Dick"; "a wily old attorney".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- He was known for his tricky ways of getting what he wanted without directly asking for it.
- The company's financial reports were full of tricky accounting maneuvers that made it hard to decipher the truth.
- She was a tricky opponent in the business world, always looking for ways to gain the upper hand.
- The tricky language in the contract made it difficult for many people to understand what they were signing.
- The politician's tricky answers to the reporter's questions raised more suspicions than they alleviated.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Not to be trusted; "how extraordinarily slippery a liar the camera is"- James Agee.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The politician's words sounded convincing, but her opponents knew she was tricky and not to be trusted.
- He was a tricky guy to interview, always dodging direct questions and providing vague answers.
- The used car salesman had a tricky reputation for selling lemons to unsuspecting customers.
- The company's financial reports were tricky to decipher, and many suspected they were hiding something.
- The documentary filmmaker was aware of the tricky nature of editing and how it could manipulate the truth.