deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv 
: tending or having power to cause someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : tending or having power to deceive
a deceptive appearance
a pitcher with a deceptive windup
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Examples of deceptive in a Sentence
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
Recent Examples on the Web
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken some steps to regulate the collection of data in vehicles, focusing on consumer protection and preventing deceptive practices.
—
Eric Reicin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Burrowes’ new fraud lawsuit also includes claims for unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
Hidden fees and a host of deceptive sales practices in the initial sale and resale of tickets can turn what should be a positive experience into a nightmare.
—Brian Hess, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
The discovery sparked accusations that Hilaria had been deceptive regarding her origins and had exaggerated her Spanish heritage.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
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Eric Reicin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Burrowes’ new fraud lawsuit also includes claims for unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
Hidden fees and a host of deceptive sales practices in the initial sale and resale of tickets can turn what should be a positive experience into a nightmare.
—Brian Hess, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
The discovery sparked accusations that Hilaria had been deceptive regarding her origins and had exaggerated her Spanish heritage.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Articles Related to deceptive
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceptive. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having power to deceive : misleading
a deceptive appearance
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Legal Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having capacity to deceive
deceptive trade practices
compare fraudulent, misleading
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