noun

gamesmanship

gamesmanship, art of winning by cunning

His use of delays was pure gamesmanship.

His use of delays was pure gamesmanship.

She won the debate through clever gamesmanship.

She won the debate through clever gamesmanship.

((a display of gamesmanship)) an instance of using cunning tactics It was a classic display of political gamesmanship.

Synonyms: strategy, tactics, cunning; Antonyms: sportsmanship

From 'game' + 'man' + '-ship' (a suffix denoting skill or art). The art of being a 'games-man'.

Think of it as the 'skill' (ship) of playing the 'game' psychologically, often by bending the rules but not breaking them.

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