Deception And Manipulation

noun an artist who specializes in bunco-related activities

• The authorities were able to apprehend the bunco artist before he could scam any more innocent victims.
• I heard that Joe's cousin is a real bunco artist, always trying to pull a fast one on people.
• Watch out for that bunco artist, he's been known to con people out of their money.
• In the world of politics, some may consider a skilled lobbyist to be a bunco artist, manipulating situations for personal gain.

noun a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud

• The charlatan claimed to have special powers to heal people.
• Don't trust that guy, he's a total charlatan.
• That charlatan is just a scam artist.
• His charisma masked his true identity as a charlatan.

noun skill in achieving one's ends through deceit or evasion

adjective having or showing skill in achieving one's ends through deceit or evasion

• The cunning fox outsmarted the hunter by leading him into a trap.
• She's a cunning one, always finding a way to get what she wants.
• That guy is so cunning, he could sell ice to an Eskimo.
• Her cunning smile told me she had a secret plan up her sleeve.

adjective having or showing slyness or cunning in dealing with others

• The guileful politician was able to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
• She's a guileful one, always finding a way to get what she wants.
• Watch out for that guileful guy, he's always up to something.
• Her smile was as guileful as a fox, hiding her true intentions.

adverb in a cunning or deceitful manner

• She guilefully manipulated the data to support her argument.
• He guilefully convinced his friends to cover for him.
• She guilefully finessed her way out of trouble.
• The politician guilefully danced around the tough questions during the interview.

noun the act of making secret and underhanded plans

adjective involving making secret and underhanded plans

• The scheming employee was eventually caught embezzling funds from the company.
• I heard that Lisa has been scheming to get a promotion at work.
• Don't trust him, he's always scheming to get what he wants.
• The dark clouds overhead seemed to be scheming to ruin our picnic.

noun A task or assignment that is meant to distract or deceive someone

• The company was accused of giving a snow job to investors by presenting false financial statements.
• Don't believe everything he says, he's just trying to give you a snow job.
• I can't stand that guy, he's always trying to pull a snow job on me.
• Her compliments felt like a snow job, insincere and superficial.

noun a trick or deceitful act

verb to use tricks or cunning to deceive someone

• The criminal used his wiles to deceive the jury during the trial.
• She managed to get out of doing her chores by using her wiles on her parents.
• He thought he could charm his way out of a ticket, but the cop wasn't fooled by his wiles.
• The fox used its wiles to outsmart the hunter and escape into the woods.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

• The liar's dividend is the temporary benefit gained from deceiving others, but it always comes with consequences.
• You might think you're getting away with it, but the liar's dividend will catch up to you eventually.
• Don't be fooled by the liar's dividend - it's never worth it in the end.
• The liar's dividend is like a poisoned apple - enticing at first, but ultimately destructive.