ploy

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/plɔɪ/
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A clever tactic or trick used to gain an advantage, influence someone, or attract attention.

Examples

  • The announcement was a ploy to distract voters.
  • It was not kindness, but a ploy to gain her trust.
  • Some customers saw the sale as a marketing ploy.
  • The coach's last-minute substitution was a tactical ploy.
  • The company used a clever ploy to get free publicity.

Similar words

ruse
maneuver
scheme
tactic
device
gambit
trick
strategy

Meanings

Usage

Ploy usually carries a hint of suspicion. It is useful for politics, marketing, negotiation, games, and relationships when an action is not as innocent as it first appears.

Common mistakes

Ploy is a countable noun: a ploy, several ploys. Use a ploy to win, a ploy to attract attention, or a ploy for sympathy, not a ploy for win.

Etymology

The exact origin is uncertain. It is often connected with older Scots and English senses meaning work, occupation, or activity, and the modern sense developed toward a strategic move or calculated device.

FAQ

What does ploy mean?

A ploy is a clever tactic or trick used to gain an advantage, influence someone, or attract attention.

Is ploy negative?

It often sounds slightly negative or suspicious, because it suggests calculation or manipulation.

What is a marketing ploy?

A marketing ploy is a tactic designed to attract customers or attention, sometimes in a way that feels manipulative.

Is ploy countable?

Yes. You can say a ploy, the ploy, or several ploys.

What preposition follows ploy?

Common patterns are a ploy to win, a ploy to distract, and a ploy for sympathy.

What is the difference between ploy and strategy?

A strategy can be broad and neutral. A ploy is usually a specific clever move and can sound more suspicious.

What are synonyms of ploy?

Common synonyms include tactic, trick, scheme, maneuver, gambit, and ruse.

Comments & contributions

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Jovial Parrot
Jul 12
dont use it for a magic trick by itself. A trick can be part of a ploy, but ploy is the plan around the trick.
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Winter Canary
Jul 9
Spanish note, truco is wider than ploy. un truco para limpiar la cocina is a tip or trick. For the sneaky meaning, estratagema or ardid is closer.
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Fearless Seal
Jul 8
plural: ploys, not ployes. like boys.
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Violet Bison
Jul 6
Publicity stunt vs publicity ploy: stunt is the noisy visible act, like the weird launch event. ploy is the calculation behind it. I would say the stunt was a ploy, not always replace one word with the other.
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Witty Panda
Jun 27
Ruse leans harder into deception. A ploy might use true facts or timing, it just nudges someone toward the reaction you want.
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Cloudy Lemming
Jun 26
Normal verb is use a ploy. enact a ploy feels odd unless you are joking.
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Curious Parrot
Jun 22
If youre defending the plan, dont call it a ploy. The side doing it says strategy or plan, the side attacking it says ploy. You see this all the time in politics because the word already smells like hidden motive.
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