What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
artifice
Example
The magician's artifice amazed the audience as he made the rabbit disappear. [artifice: noun]
Example
She used artifice to convince her parents to let her go to the party. [artifice: noun]
subterfuge
Example
He resorted to subterfuge to avoid getting caught for his mistake. [subterfuge: noun]
Example
The spy used subterfuge to gather information without raising suspicion. [subterfuge: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Artifice is more commonly used than subterfuge in everyday language. Artifice is versatile and can be used in various contexts, including magic tricks, clever strategies, or general deception. Subterfuge, on the other hand, is slightly less common and is more commonly used to describe sneaky or underhanded tactics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between artifice and subterfuge?
While artifice is more formal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, subterfuge is slightly less formal and is more commonly used in informal settings.
