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GRE vocabulary

artifice

nounHigh-frequency wordMore A words

clever or cunning trickery to deceive

Word origin: From Latin artificium, craftsmanship (ars art plus facere to make).

In a sentence

Artifice in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing artifice in a sentence.

The magician's act relied entirely on artifice and misdirection.

Beneath the painting's apparent spontaneity lay careful artifice, every brushstroke deliberately placed.

Synonyms
Antonyms
honestycandorsincerity
Usage & nuance

Using “artifice” well

Artifice denotes clever, often deceptive contrivance, carrying a connotation of trickery or studied artificiality. It can describe both cunning deceit and skillful, calculated craft.

Common questions

Questions about “artifice

Artifice (noun) means clever or cunning trickery to deceive
Here is artifice used in an example sentence: "The magician's act relied entirely on artifice and misdirection." Another example: "Beneath the painting's apparent spontaneity lay careful artifice, every brushstroke deliberately placed."
Common synonyms for artifice include trickery, guile, subterfuge.
Antonyms of artifice include honesty, candor, sincerity.
Artifice clusters with trickery, guile, and subterfuge in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms honesty, candor, and sincerity mark the genuine openness a passage may contrast against it.
Yes. Artifice is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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