1
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deceptive
In the face of increasingly complex and deceptive online scams, what measures can individuals adopt to protect themselves and ensure a secure digital presence?
—
Quora, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Ornithologists seem pretty convinced that this is all deceptive.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Battering ram with deceptive speed (4.51), but struggles catching the ball.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Key attributes: Explosive speed, deceptive footwork for separation.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Quora, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Ornithologists seem pretty convinced that this is all deceptive.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Battering ram with deceptive speed (4.51), but struggles catching the ball.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Key attributes: Explosive speed, deceptive footwork for separation.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceptive
Adjective
-
Any email platform is exposed to this kind of attack, with scammers using fraudulent alerts and malicious links to entrap victims.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Affected individuals may be vulnerable to identity theft, fraudulent account openings and targeted phishing attempts.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year’s 17-9 start proved to be a false spring, one that lulled fans into thinking Craig Counsell replacing David Ross was the real difference between an 83-win Cubs team and the postseason.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The mood shifts from shady to straight-up scandalous.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, Fenix lost the biggest match of his young WWE career, albeit under shady circumstances, while Americano picked up a WrestleMania win.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The cruelty of his dishonest sham, founded on disdain for the autistic community and aimed at parents of autistic children, defies decency.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder.—
Clementina Chery,
Boston Herald,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Evans' latest film, Havoc, stars Tom Hardy as Walker, an unsavory fixer tasked with protecting the son of real estate tycoon Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker) after the kid stumbles into a plot involving the Yakuza, crooked cops, and other assorted goons.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Rooker plays Steve, a crooked detective with a ruthless streak who holds the key to Hammer’s only weakness.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceptive. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share