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A crafty, and typically underhanded, means to achieve one's aims
“The artifice was too palpable to escape Rotha's observation.”
The use of crafty and underhanded means to achieve one's aims
“Amid the layers of artifice and corporate double-speak, here was at least one shiny nugget of honest-to-god truth.”
A false front or display
“But that he might attain the proper effect of his work under the artifice of a poetic disguise, he composed story in many respects like that of this historic Dido, according to the privilege of poets established by ancient custom.”
A means or set of methods to achieve one's (underhanded) aims
“The contradictory economic artifice concocted by García and his advisors and allies worked for only two years.”
A means or utility serving a particular (underhanded) purpose
“Furthermore, it was clear that the employment of employees by the first joint employer was but an artifice set up to evade the NLRA.”
The ability to execute one's skills in an artful or crafty manner
“Any performative element that flaunts its difference from what is considered realistic might qualify as an instance of theatrical artifice, creating an intense affect in the audience.”
A (seemingly) magical performance, typically involving trickery
“In this respect, magical artifice does not differ significantly from what is usually associated with religion or even premodern learning, but the concept itself is nevertheless veiled in ambiguity.”
The ability to solve difficult problems, often in original, clever, and inventive ways
The state or quality of being specious
An erroneous belief, idea, or conception
Related Words and Phrases
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