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-dealingAdjectivedouble-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
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.
Noun
Or that double-dealing old ally who can still hunt?—Mohammed Hanif, Time, 2 Sep. 2025 Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated).—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 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 Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love.—Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 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
Share