The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word RUSE which also is the latest solution we found used in LA Times in 2025.
Subterfuge crossword clue answers
Here's a list of possible crossword answers ranked by the most likely to least likely.
| Answer | Likelyness | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| RUSE | 63 % | 4 |
| SHAM | 7 % | 4 |
| PLOY | 6 % | 4 |
| EVASION | 6 % | 7 |
| PRETEXT | 4 % | 7 |
| TRICK | 3 % | 5 |
| BLIND | 3 % | 5 |
| WILE | 3 % | 4 |
| STEALTH | 1 % | 7 |
| DECEIT | 1 % | 6 |
| REDHERRING | 1 % | 10 |
| PRETENSE | 1 % | 8 |
| TRAP | 1 % | 4 |
Why may RUSE be the right solution?
The word "ruse" means a deceptive or cunning trick, which aligns with the definition of "subterfuge" as a deceptive strategy or tactic. Therefore, "ruse" is the right solution for the clue "subterfuge."
Words with a meaning similar to the clue: Subterfuge
These words may or may not be a possible solution to this crosswords clue.- blind
- wile
- deception
- pretext
- trickery
- sham
- trick
- excuse
- loophole
- ruse
- deceit
- obfuscation
Crossword Answer definitions
RUSE noun- A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs.
- (by extension) An action intended to deceive; a trick.
- Cunning, guile, trickery.
- To deceive or trick using a ruse.
- Of an animal: to turn or double back to elude hunters or their hunting dogs.
More crossword clues leading to the same solutions
Here's a few more crossword clues - all leading to the identical solution
More clues leading to the result RUSE
- Crafty manuever
- Subterfuge
- Trick
- Deception
- Devious scheme
- Artful dodge
- Bit of chicanery
- Con man's device
- Artifice
- Ploy
More clues leading to the result SHAM
- Bogus
- Decorative cover
- Fake
- Pillow cover
- Pillow protector
- Sam the __ and the Pharaohs
- Bedding item
- Deceit
- Fraud
- Hoax
More clues leading to the result PLOY
- Ruse
- Gimmick
- Artful dodge
- Clever machination
- Tricky maneuver
- Strategy
- Underhanded tactic
- Stratagem
- Clever tactic
- Sly stratagem
More clues leading to the result EVASION
- Tax no-no
- Tax ___
- Component of a cat and mouse game
- Dodger's specialty
- Noncommittal reply
- Runaround
- Tax crime
- Political tactic
- Dodger's forte
- Taxpayer's crime
More clues leading to the result PRETEXT
- Ostensible reason
- "I'm staying in to wash my hair," perhaps
- Deceptive excuse
- It's not the real reason
- Concocted reason
- Excuse
- Trumped-up excuse
- Subterfuge
- Ostensible excuse
- Excuse.
More clues leading to the result TRICK
- Dodge
- Fool
- Halloween choice
- David Copperfield marvel
- Feat of magic
- Treat alternative
- "_or treat!"
- Deception
- Prank
- Fast one
More clues leading to the result BLIND
- "____ as a bat"
- ... Mr. Magoo was ___
- Forced bet in poker
- Window covering
- Place of concealment
- Unsighted
- Like many taste tests
- Obligatory poker bet
- ___ man's bluff
- Third Eye ___ (rock group)
More clues leading to the result WILE
- __ E. Coyote
- Stratagem
- Bit of chicanery
- Scheming
- Sneaky trick
- Trick
- Artifice
- Sly stratagem
- Beguiling trick
- Pass, with "away"
More clues leading to the result STEALTH
- Furtiveness
- Like the B-2 bomber
- Under the radar
- Unobtrusiveness
- Burglar's forte
- Kind of U.S. bomber
- Ninja's asset
- Sneak attack requirement
- Bomber type
- Type of fighter-bomber
More clues leading to the result DECEIT
- Con man's game
- Chicanery
- Trickery
- Double dealing
- Duplicity
- Scheming behavior
- Skullduggery
- Artifice
- Double-dealing
- Con man's forte
More clues leading to the result REDHERRING
- Misleading clue
- Misleading lead
- Embarrassed fish?
- Artful dodge
- Device used in mystery writing
- Fake footprint at the murder scene, e.g.
- *Whodunit staple
- Distracting literary device
- Whodunit misdirection
- False clue