Subterfuge is synonymous with words like cheat, evasion, excuse, fraud, ploy, sham, scheme and trick. Therefore, it can be used in place of these words when constructing a sentence. Using a lesser known word like subterfuge instead of a popular word like trick can add depth to your writing.
Subterfuge is the opposite of sincerity, honor, truth and reality. The use of the word subterfuge can, therefore, be used to create juxtaposition within a sentence.
From "The Devil's Novice" -- "Two days after the lord king left Lincoln, Ranulf of Chester and William of Roumare made their way into the king's castle by a subterfuge and have taken it by force." In "Life of Adam Smith," it was quoted, "I shall not take any excuse from your own state of health, which I suppose only a subterfuge invented by indolence and love of solitude." And in "A Clique of Gold," "Daniel would never have thought of such a subterfuge in order to avoid mentioning the name of Count Ville-Handry; but, seeing it thus offered to him, he determined to profit by the opportunity."
Subterfuge is a noun and a noun, by definition, is used to name a person, place, animal, thing or abstract concept. This particular noun implies an action; that is, a trick or a type of willful deceit. If, in your writing, there are characters that are trying to misinform, deceive, trick, or distract, you can use the word subterfuge. So instead of saying "they tried to trick us in order to elect their own candidates," you could more creatively say "they employed various subterfuges to elect candidates of their own choosing."