DECEIVE Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

deceive

verb

di-ˈsēv

as in to fool

to cause to believe what is untrue he went to great lengths to deceive his family about the nature of his new job at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deceive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deceive are beguile, delude, and mislead. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

In what contexts can beguile take the place of deceive?

Although the words beguile and deceive have much in common, beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When is delude a more appropriate choice than deceive?

While the synonyms delude and deceive are close in meaning, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

When is it sensible to use mislead instead of deceive?

The words mislead and deceive can be used in similar contexts, but mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

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 deceive To keep the most vulnerable safe, Ivan has to decide to confront the soldiers or deceive them at the potential cost of his life. —

Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026 Relying Too Much On Garbage Disposals Though the name may be deceiving, garbage disposals aren’t actually designed to dispose of all garbage. —

Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026 Voyage Nylon Garment Duffel Don’t let your eyes deceive you! —

Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025 That level of eye-deceiving detail falters in wide shots, however, some of which suffer from unflattering flat lighting that in certain instances recall computer screensavers of yore, given their colorful artificiality. —

Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deceive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceive

Verb

Don't be fooled by an ocean that looks calm.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
To Newton, the saga was a reminder of how, in the age of increasingly sophisticated and accessible generative AI, anyone online can easily and quickly fool even the most discerning content consumers.

— Lauren Wilson, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026