noun
wile
wyl
noun
1
A crafty trick used to deceive or persuade someone.
"She used her wiles to talk her way past security."
verb
1
To lure or charm someone through cunning or trickery.
"He tried to wile her into agreeing with a bit of flattery."
How to Use Wile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sly trick or the act of using cunning charm to get what you want.
Common mistake
Almost always seen in the plural "wiles" (as in "feminine wiles"); the singular is rare.
Common pairings
feminine wiles
use your wiles
Word Forms
wiled past tense, wiles plural, wiles singular
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She used her _____ to talk her way past security.
Etymology
From Middle English wile, related to Old English wīl ("trick") — a doublet of the word "guile."