DOUBLE-DEALING Synonyms: 229 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'double-dealing' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception , fraud , subterfuge , and trickery . While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude. // a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Q: When might 'deception' be a better fit than 'double-dealing'?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource. // magicians are masters of deception

Q: When is 'fraud' a more appropriate choice than 'double-dealing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing , fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice. // indicted for fraud

Q: When could 'subterfuge' be used to replace 'double-dealing'?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end. // obtained the papers by subterfuge

Q: When would 'trickery' be a good substitute for 'double-dealing'?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat. // resorted to trickery to gain their ends

double-dealing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of double-dealing next

as in fraudulent

marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in double

not being or expressing what one appears to be or express the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

double-dealing

2 of 2

noun

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-liŋ

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery a go-between suspected of double-dealing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the noun double-dealing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception, fraud, subterfuge, and trickery. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

When might deception be a better fit than double-dealing?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than double-dealing?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace double-dealing?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

When would trickery be a good substitute for double-dealing?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

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 double-dealing

Adjective

The notion of reputational damage is alien to someone whose image was long ago tarnished beyond repair by grifting, lying, bullying, and double-dealing. —

Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026

Noun

But that rhetoric sounded hollow in the face of its dalliance with a drug-smuggling double-dealing despot like Noriega. —

Time, 25 Nov. 2025 Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated). —

Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 Mullen's righthand man, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), was double-dealing with billionaire Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg), who ultimately ordered a hit on him in Episode 4. —

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025 Through his double-dealing with the government, Carmine Falcone was Gotham’s top crime boss for over two decades, accruing massive wealth, political influence, and an elite status. —

Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024 Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love. —

Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 While the Biden Administration seems to perceive Cambodia as an amenable partner, Manet is double-dealing Beijing and Washington. —

Sam Rainsy, TIME, 24 June 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-dealing

Adjective

Some defendants are also accused of conspiring to bribe a civilian contractor to create fraudulent military IDs for base access.

— Steve Patterson, Florida Times-Union, 5 Feb. 2026
Rivers used her professional connection with Event Décor Direct in Deerfield Beach to take money from the event decoration business over a three-month period in 2025, in part by making dozens of fraudulent transactions and credit card purchases, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of fraudulent

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double-dealers

double-dealing

doubled (in)

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“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-dealing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 14 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of double-dealing

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