deceiving

ADJECTIVE

deceitful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

artful deceptive disingenuous duplicitous false fraudulent hypocritical misleading underhanded untrustworthy untruthful

WEAK

astucious astute beguiling clandestine counterfeit crafty cunning delusive delusory designing double-dealing fallacious feline foxy furtive guileful illusory impostrous indirect insidious knavish lying mendacious rascal roguish shifty slick sly sneaky stealthy subtle treacherous tricky two-faced underhand wily

Antonyms

STRONGEST

actual authentic forthright frank genuine honest ingenuous just naive open real reliable sincere truthful upright valid

WEAK

faithful loyal trustworthy

ADJECTIVE

deceptive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous deceitful disingenuous false fraudulent misleading slick sneaky subtle tricky underhanded unreliable

WEAK

astucious beguiling bum catchy crafty cunning deluding delusive delusory designing fake fallacious fishy foxy illusory imposturous indirect insidious lying mock oblique off phony plausible rascal roguish scheming seeming serpentine shifty slippery sly snide specious spurious treacherous two-faced underhand wily

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard forthright frank genuine honest open real reliable sincere true trustworthy truthful valid

WEAK

upright

ADJECTIVE

delusive

Synonyms

WEAK

apparent beguiling chimerical deluding fallacious false fanciful fantastic illusive illusory imaginary misleading ostensible quixotic seeming specious spurious visionary

Antonyms

WEAK

actual certain factual honest real truthful

ADJECTIVE

delusory

Synonyms

WEAK

chimeric chimerical deceitful deluding delusive fallacious false illusive illusory imaginary misleading

ADJECTIVE

dishonest

Synonyms

STRONGEST

corrupt crooked deceitful deceptive false fraudulent misleading shady sneaky underhanded unfair unprincipled unscrupulous untrustworthy

WEAK

backbiting bent bluffing cheating crafty cunning designing disreputable double-crossing double-dealing elusive guileful hoodwinking mendacious perfidious recreant shifty sinister slippery sneaking swindling traitorous treacherous tricky two-faced two-timing unctuous villainous wily

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard ethical fair faithful forthright frank genuine good honest honorable just moral open principled real reliable straight trustworthy truthful upright valid

WEAK

scrupulous

ADJECTIVE

fallacious

Synonyms

WEAK

beguiling deceptive deluding delusive delusory erroneous fictitious fishy fraudulent illogical illusory incorrect invalid irrational mad misleading mistaken off phony reasonless sophistic sophistical spurious unfounded ungrounded unreal unreasonable unreasoned unsound untrue way-off

Antonyms

WEAK

correct real true truthful

ADJECTIVE

false

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bogus deceitful dishonest distorted erroneous fake fanciful faulty fictitious fraudulent improper inaccurate incorrect invalid misleading mistaken phony specious spurious unfounded unreal untrue untruthful

WEAK

apocryphal beguiling casuistic concocted contrary to fact cooked-up counterfactual delusive ersatz fallacious fishy illusive imaginary inexact lying mendacious misrepresentative off the mark sham sophistical trumped-up unsound

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accurate authentic correct fair faithful frank genuine honest moral open proven real right sincere sound true trustworthy truthful valid

WEAK

actual factual just known precise reliable straight substantiated

ADJECTIVE

false

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceitful deceptive malicious misleading

WEAK

apostate base beguiling canting corrupt crooked deluding delusive devious dishonorable disloyal double-dealing duplicitous faithless falsehearted forsworn foul lying malevolent mean mythomaniac perfidious perjured rascally recreant renegade scoundrelly traitorous treacherous treasonable two-faced underhanded unfaithful unscrupulous untrustworthy venal villainous wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

frank honest open truthful upright

WEAK

accurate actual correct factual genuine just known precise real reliable right straight substantiated true valid

ADJECTIVE

misleading

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous deceitful disingenuous evasive false inaccurate puzzling wrong

STRONG

beguiling bewildering confounding deluding distracting perplexing

WEAK

casuistical catchy delusive delusory demagogic fallacious sophistical specious spurious tricky

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accurate correct frank honest right sincere straight truthful

ADJECTIVE

roguish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

devilish impish playful sly

WEAK

beguiling crafty crooked cunning deceptive dishonest fraudulent knavish lying naughty puckish rascally shifty slick sneaky tricky underhand underhanded unprincipled untruthful

ADJECTIVE

sanctimonious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hypocritical insincere pious self-satisfied smug stuffy

WEAK

Pecksniffian bigoted canting false goody-goody holier-than-thou pharisaical pietistic preachy unctuous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forthright honest open sincere unsure

WEAK

humble meek modest

ADJECTIVE

sophistic

Synonyms

WEAK

beguiling deceptive deluding delusive delusory erroneous false fictitious fishy fraudulent illogical illusory incorrect invalid irrational mad misleading mistaken off phony reasonless sophistical specious spurious unfounded ungrounded unreal unreasonable unreasoned unsound untrue way-off

ADJECTIVE

two-faced

Synonyms

WEAK

artful backstabbing beguiling crafty cunning deceptive dishonest double-dealing foxy fraudulent guileful hypocritical insincere knavish lying misleading shifty sly sneaky tricky underhanded untruthful

ADJECTIVE

untruthful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceitful deceptive false fraudulent misleading untrustworthy

WEAK

bluffing cheating corrupt crooked disreputable double-crossing double-dealing lying shady shifty sneaking sneaky tricky two-faced two-timing underhanded

Antonyms

STRONGEST

faithful frank genuine honest open real reliable trustworthy truthful upright valid

NOUN

cheating

Synonyms

STRONG

deception defrauding dishonesty

Antonyms

STRONG

frankness honesty openness truthfulness

NOUN

meanness

Synonyms

STRONG

belittling cheating scolding

WEAK

coveting defaming defrauding degrading dishonoring groveling grudging quarreling shaming sneaking

Antonyms

WEAK

generosity nobility worthiness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I think we should focus on the new and leave behind negative rhetoric, the malice, and the effort to deceive—to keep deceiving Venezuelans and the world,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Looks, too, can be deceiving for those not on the grounds.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

Planned Parenthood is not the only nonprofit that is accused of deceiving the public that way.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026

Josh Kelly has always presented as confident but looks can be deceiving.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Finally I gave up my speculations and concluded that in life, as in stories, foolish lovers will go to great lengths, deceiving themselves for the sake of pleasure.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

deceiving

Example Sentences

Related Words