feint

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈfeɪnt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in fencing or boxing, intended to distract or mislead an opponent.; A deceptive maneuver or stratagem intended to mislead or distract an adversary, especially in military operations.; A pretense or false show of something; a sham.
  2. verb
    To make a deceptive or pretended movement, especially in fencing or combat, in order to distract or mislead an opponent.; To pretend or simulate an action or intention in order to deceive.
  3. adjective
    Archaic spelling or variant of 'faint,' meaning weak, feeble, or lacking strength.
  4. noun
    In football (soccer), a deceptive movement of the body or ball intended to mislead a defender.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: feints 3rd sing.: feints Past: feinted Past part.: feinted Pres part.: feinting

Collocations

make a feintfeint leftfeint rightfeint and strikethrow a feint

Derivatives

feinter

Synonyms

fakedeceptionrusebluffmaneuverdodge

Commonly confused

faint
EN: 'Faint' means to lose consciousness or describes something weak/dim; 'feint' is a deceptive movement or trick.
feign
EN: 'Feign' means to pretend or simulate (e.g., feign illness); 'feint' is specifically a deceptive physical movement, especially in combat or sports.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'feint' (a deceptive move) with 'faint' (to lose consciousness) or 'feign' (to pretend). All three are pronounced differently and have distinct meanings.

💬 Examples

  1. The boxer made a feint to the left before delivering a powerful right hook.

  2. The general ordered a feint against the eastern flank while the main force attacked from the west.

  3. Her interest in the project was merely a feint to gain access to confidential documents.

  4. The fencer feinted high and then struck low, catching his opponent off guard.

  5. He feinted an attack on the castle to draw the enemy's reserves away from the real target.

  6. A feint sound was heard in the distance, barely perceptible to the ear.

  7. The striker used a body feint to send the defender the wrong way before shooting.