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
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Recent Examples of deceptive
In fact, the instantly-recognizable print is often considered a neutral by fashion people for its deceptive wearability.
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Jordan Julian, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025
As with the deceptive home robot demos, there is a difference between the ideal version of a task and the messy reality of putting humanoids to work in commercial settings.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The companies must also comply with reporting requirements, reform their practices, and refrain from any further unfair or deceptive marketing or sale of diesel vehicles, including misrepresentations regarding emissions and compliance, Kaul said.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Its key provisions target specific deceptive tactics businesses use, broken down into several sections.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceptive
Adjective
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Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
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For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.—
Adjective
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From May 2020 to January 2022, Vazquez, Highsmith and several associates submitted fraudulent applications to financial institutions and the Small Business Administration.—
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Trauernicht, 46, is accused of approving McFadden’s fraudulent timesheets while seeking a romantic relationship with her.—
Adjective
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Plants that provide winter interest, including sedums, goldenrod, blue false indigo, and ornamental grasses.—
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Today’s teenagers can produce a TikTok video in minutes, but how many of them will learn to analyze the president’s false claim that Tylenol causes autism?—
Adjective
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The bill is meant to explicitly prohibit that kind of shady transaction.—
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As would giving Law an award for playing a shady restaurateur in Black Rabbit.—
Adjective
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Multiple points of validation will help combat dishonest applicants, DEED Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe told lawmakers at the time.—
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Thai Diner Yes, Thai Diner is technically in NoLita, but leaving it out would feel even more dishonest.—
Adjective
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Willms plans to call the Bureau of Land Management — the agency that oversees these parcels of federal land — to report the crooked stake.—
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Begin by removing any suckers at the base of the tree, side shoots on the trunk, crossing or crooked branches, dead or damaged branches, those that are growing inward, and crowded branches.—
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceptive. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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