Trick is a very broad term that can refer to everything from an underhanded act designed to cheat someone (a politician’s dirty tricks) to an optical illusion or a prank. Ruse has a narrower application, and is usually used in reference to a false impression or show put forth to hide true intentions or divert attention from shrewd maneuvers. The theme of misdirection or throwing someone off track in order to get away with something reflects the earliest sense of the word: ruse entered English as a hunting term referring to a turn or route taken by an animal in order to dodge its would-be captors.

To annoy is to disturb or bother a person in a way that displeases, troubles, or slightly irritates them. This verb is usually used in discussion of minor offenses, such as noises that repeatedly interrupt one’s focus or behavior that tries one’s patience. Vex is a more pointed term, suggesting a greater degree of irritation or frustration and sometimes even distress or worry. This versatile verb is also used to talk about problems or questions that, in their complexity or difficulty, confound or perplex.

The verbs win and prevail both deal with claiming victory, but in different arenas. Win is more likely to be found in a literal arena, as in the case of a sporting event where one team will overcome an adversary to win a game (go, team!). Prevail is commonly found in discussions of struggles or battles where the winner is not a team, but an idea such as morality, justice, or truth. It’s also used in the common expression cooler heads prevail, which is used (usually in a hopeful or relieved manner) to mean that more calm, rational voices will or did win out over fiery, irrational ones.