Artful Dodges are a type of clever maneuvering used to avoid a difficult situation or to gain an advantage. The term can be broken down into five related words: schemes (7 letters), PLOYS (5 letters), RUSES (5 letters), RUSE (4 letters), and SLY (3 letters). Schemes refer to a plan or strategy, while PLOYS and RUSES are both tactics used to deceive or outwit someone. RUSE is a synonym for ploy, and SLY refers to being cunning or crafty. All of these words together describe the concept of artful dodges.