Ploy and Sham

Ploy

Ploy noun - A clever often underhanded means to achieve an end.

Usage example: asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party

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Sham and ploy are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Sham" instead a noun "Ploy".

Nearby Word: ployed

Sham noun - A poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something.

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Ploy and sham are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Ploy" instead a noun "Sham".

Nearby Word: shame

A ploy, a plot, a plan, a charade, a conspiracy, a sham!

Source: Hurricane of Euphemisms

Cite this Source

Sham and Ploy. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/ploy/sham

Ploy & Sham. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/ploy/sham>.

Sham or Ploy. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/ploy/sham.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "ploy" and "sham" have occurred on timeline