feint

(fānt)
n.

1. A feigned attack designed to draw defensive action away from an intended target.
2. A deceptive action calculated to divert attention from one's real purpose. See synonyms at wile.

v., feint·ed, feint·ing, feints.

v.intr.
To make a feint.

v.tr.

1. To deceive with a feint.
2. To make a deceptive show of.

[French feinte, from Old French, from past participle of feindre, to feign. See feign.]

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Both words come from the same Old French root feindre 'to feign'. Faint is used as an adjective meaning 'indistinct, pale' or 'feeling dizzy', as a noun meaning 'a loss of consciousness', and as a verb meaning 'to lose consciousness'. Feint is used as a noun meaning 'a sham attack or blow as a diversion', as a verb meaning 'to make a feint', and (since the 19th century) as an adjective denoting faint lines on ruled paper.

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noun

An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end: artifice, deception, device, dodge, gimmick, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, wile. Informal shenanigan, take-in. See honest/dishonest, means.

n

Definition: pretense
Antonyms: truth

[fānt]

n. 1. a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement.

2. a mock attack or movement in warfare, made in order to distract or deceive an enemy.

v.

make a deceptive or distracting movement, typically during a fight: he feinted left, drawing a punch and slipping it.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A slight bend in the edge of a flashing or counterflashing to form a capillary break.

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(DOD) In military deception, an offensive action involving contact with the adversary conducted for the purpose of deceiving the adversary as to the location and/or time of the actual main offensive action.

IN BRIEF: Any sham, pretense, or deceptive movement.

A feint is a great move in the sport of fencing because it fools the opponent.

Tutor's tip: The soccer player felt as thought he was going to "faint" (to temporarily lose consciousness) after making an incredible "feint" (a pretended blow or attack; a deceptive move) to score the goal.

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For a list of words related to feint, see:

• Strategy and Tactics - feint: attack aimed at one point as a distraction from the real point of attack

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See words rhyming with "feint."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Feint.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - list, forstillelse, skinangreb
v. intr. - foretage et skinangreb
v. tr. - finte

Nederlands (Dutch)
schijnbeweging, voorwendsel, flauw, een schijnbeweging maken, veinzen, een voorwendsel maken

Français (French)
n. - (Sport) feinte, (Mil) feinte, (Imprim) réglure fine
v. intr. - feinter, (Mil) faire une fausse attaque, (Sport) feinter
v. tr. - feinter

Deutsch (German)
n. - Finte
v. - eine Finte ausführen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - προσποίηση, παραπλανητική επίθεση
adj. - αμυδρός
v. - προσποιούμαι ότι θα επιτεθώ

Italiano (Italian)
finta, finto, fingere

Português (Portuguese)
n. - finta (f) (Esp.)
v. - fintar

Русский (Russian)
финт, диверсия, наносить отвлекающий удар

Español (Spanish)
n. - finta, amago, fingido
v. intr. - fintar, hacer una finta
v. tr. - fintar, amagar

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skenmanöver, list
adj. - svag
v. - företa ett skenanfall, finta (sport)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
伪装, 假托, 假装, 装作, 佯攻

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 偽裝, 假託, 假裝
v. intr. - 裝作, 佯攻, 假裝
v. tr. - 佯攻

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 가장, 시늉, 견제동작
v. intr. - ~체하다, 속이다
v. tr. - 때리는 척을 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 見せかけ, フェイント, 薄い罫線
v. - 打つふりをする, フェイントをかける, 見せかけでだます, …のふりをする
adj. - 細くて色がうすい

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) خدعه , هجوم وهمي (صفه) مخادع , ماكر (فعل) يخدع , يتظاهر ب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תרגיל הסחה‬
v. intr. - ‮ערך תרגיל הסחה‬
v. tr. - ‮הטעה‬

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