What is the term for achieving something through trickery or devious methods?

The term "finagle" refers to achieving something through trickery or deceitful methods. It often implies a level of cunning or cleverness in how one goes about obtaining a desired outcome, whether through clever negotiation, deceit, or some form of manipulation. This word captures the essence of employing less-than-honest tactics to secure your aims, which aligns perfectly with the idea of trickery.

While the other options have their own nuanced meanings, they don't directly encapsulate the idea of achieving an outcome through deceitful means as effectively as "finagle." For instance, "conquer" usually pertains to overcoming obstacles or defeating others, often through strength or skill rather than trickery. "Manipulate" suggests influencing or controlling a situation or person, but this can occur both ethically and unethically; it does not inherently imply deceit. "Contrive," on the other hand, refers to creating or bringing about something, often by clever planning, but it does not specifically imply the use of trickery in the process.

Therefore, "finagle" is the most accurate choice to describe achieving a goal through cunning or deceitful methods.