adj
tricky
TRIHK-ee
adj
1
Difficult to handle or figure out because of hidden complications.
"Parking here is tricky because the street signs are so confusing."
"It was a tricky question with no obvious right answer."
2
Skilled at deceiving or cheating people.
"He has a reputation as a tricky negotiator."
How to Use Tricky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot straightforward — either a situation that's hard to manage, or a person who's crafty and deceptive.
Common pairings
a tricky situation
tricky question
tricky customer
Word Forms
trickier comparative, trickiest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tricky”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Parking here is _____ because the street signs are so confusing.
Etymology
From trick plus the adjective ending -y.