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Showing results for deceive. Search instead for decliv.
Definitions

deceive

[dih-seev] / dɪˈsiv /
VERB
mislead; be dishonest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
be dishonest betray cheat circumvent defraud delude disappoint dupe entrap falsify fool hoodwink mislead swindle trick victimize
STRONG
bamboozle beat beguile bilk buffalo burn clip con cozen ensnare fake fleece gouge gull hoax hook humbug outwit rob scam screw sell skin
WEAK
beat out of cross up double-cross impose upon lead on play joke on pull fast one put on put up a smokescreen suck in take advantage of take for take for ride take in take to cleaners
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist help protect support
STRONG
be honest give let go offer release

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.

Now they are able to do more damage using artificial intelligence to simulate fake grassroots opposition to clean air measures, and they are surreptitiously using the identities of real people to deceive regulators.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

It’s essentially three things: deceive, disrupt, and deny.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Curran was selected after a sparkling Hundred campaign for winners Oval Invincibles, and having a developed an elaborate super-slow "moon ball" to deceive opposition batters.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

It is worse than hypocrisy, because they seek to deceive not only others but themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

It was now leading the bond trader to deceive himself.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.