feint

1 of 2

noun

ˈfānt

: something feigned

specifically : a mock blow or attack on or toward one part in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack

The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook.

feint

2 of 2

verb

feinted; feinting; feints

intransitive verb

: to make a feint

transitive verb

: to lure or deceive with a feint

: to make a pretense of

Choose the Right Synonym for feint

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.

trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Examples of feint in a Sentence

Noun The boxer made a feint with his right, then followed with a left hook. Verb He feinted with his right, then followed with a left hook.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Spain’s standout attacker at the tournament received the ball out wide, wrong-footed the defender with a brilliant feint and put a ball into the box which eventually trickled on to Celia Segura, who made no mistake from close range. —

Neel Shelat, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 But this gesture is rarely more than a feint, as the series never probes Haddix’s interiority. —

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2024

Verb

At the 10-yard mark, Johnston stutter-stepped, feinting a break on the route. —

Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024 Out of desperation, some in Silicon Valley seem intent on reviving McCarthy’s old playbook, distracting from real problems by feinting at Communists. —

Gary Marcus, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feint

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French feinte, going back to Middle French fainte, feinte "act of dissembling, subterfuge," noun derivative from feminine past participle of feindre "to fabricate, dissemble, feign"

Verb

derivative of feint entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1644, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1741, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of feint was in 1644

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Feint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feint. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

feint

noun

ˈfānt

: a pretended blow or attack at one point in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack

feint verb

Last Updated: 13 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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feint

noun

verb

Examples of feint in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition