1
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit
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2
as in deceitfulness
the tendency to tell lies
she's completely free of deceit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deceit
She has now been sentenced to federal prison to pay for her deceit.
—
Dan Raby, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Drama, deceit, and fierce gameplay are the hallmarks of each episode.
—Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Such deceit is incompatible with public service.
—Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
These are just some of the most prominent, powerful bootlickers stumbling right now on their own deceit and desperation.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Dan Raby, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Drama, deceit, and fierce gameplay are the hallmarks of each episode.
—Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Such deceit is incompatible with public service.
—Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
These are just some of the most prominent, powerful bootlickers stumbling right now on their own deceit and desperation.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceit
Noun
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In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
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These include debt bondage, restriction of movement, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, physical violence, surveillance, deception, isolation, abuse of vulnerability and abusive conditions.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Her cross-examination — with its rapid-fire accusations, caustic tone and presumption of dishonesty — had felt eerily familiar after years of verbal abuse.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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There’s no dishonesty in anything that [Quentin] writes or how people talk, feel or speak [in his movies].—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lindell bragged of spending millions to combat election fraud.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Banks are required by law to report suspicious activity in customer accounts to federal authorities in order to flag potential criminal activity, such as money laundering or fraud.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There is no rampant cheating or election fraud in California.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Research shows that artificial intelligence tools can support learning, but also has raised concerns, including students’ overreliance, cheating, and the potential degradation of critical thinking and engagement.—
Jeanne Beatrix Law,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Brazil international combines technical craft with a decisive cunning.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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But Muck is no Epstein, malevolent and cunning.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceit. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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