double-dealing

1 of 2

noun

dou·​ble-deal·​ing ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-liŋ 

: action contradictory to a professed attitude : duplicity

double-dealer

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-lər 

noun

double-dealing

2 of 2

adjective

: given to or marked by duplicity

Synonyms

Noun

• artifice
• cheating
• cozenage
• craft
• craftiness
• crookedness
• crookery
• cunning
• cunningness
• deceit
• deceitfulness
• deception
• deceptiveness
• dishonesty
• dissembling
• dissimulation
• dupery
• duplicity
• fakery
• foxiness
• fraud
• guile
• guilefulness
• wiliness

Adjective

• crooked
• deceitful
• defrauding
• dishonest
• false
• fraudulent

Choose the Right Synonym for double-dealing

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Examples of double-dealing in a Sentence

Noun

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Adjective

double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general

the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired

the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mullen's righthand man, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), was double-dealing with billionaire Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg), who ultimately ordered a hit on him in Episode 4. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025

Through his double-dealing with the government, Carmine Falcone was Gotham’s top crime boss for over two decades, accruing massive wealth, political influence, and an elite status. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024

While the Biden Administration seems to perceive Cambodia as an amenable partner, Manet is double-dealing Beijing and Washington. —Sam Rainsy, TIME, 24 June 2024

Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 July 2023

Having a computer be the antagonistic heart of the film instead of a human baddie is a huge swing, though, and consequently this first of a two-part story line faces some narrative obstacles amid the usual face-swapping, double-dealing spycraft. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 July 2023

Dive into these series for the thrill of family backstabbing, corporate double-dealing or simply for the maladjusted — and wealthy and/or powerful — bringing out the worst in one another, typically (except for a few aspirational exceptions). —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1529, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1587, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for double-dealing

• snowmobiling
• unappealing
• annealing
• appealing
• concealing
• congealing
• freewheeling
• repealing
• revealing
• unfeeling
• ceiling
• dealing

Kids Definition

double-dealing

noun

dou·​ble-deal·​ing

ˌdəb-əl-ˈdē-liŋ

: duplicity

double-dealer noun

double-dealing adjective