1
as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value charged the store owner with such deceitful practices as inflating the list prices for items only so he could put them on sale at drastically reduced prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective deceitful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deceitful are dishonest, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When would dishonest be a good substitute for deceitful?

In some situations, the words dishonest and deceitful are roughly equivalent. However, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

Where would mendacious be a reasonable alternative to deceitful?

The meanings of mendacious and deceitful largely overlap; however, mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

When might untruthful be a better fit than deceitful?

While the synonyms untruthful and deceitful are close in meaning, untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

Examples of deceitful in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web It has been pillaged, wounded, dragged into an aggressive war, and turned into a prison run by the most unscrupulous and deceitful scoundrels. Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024 No: California should end deceitful bond elections before lowering the vote threshold. The Mercury News/east Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024 Despite his position and seeming authority, Jafar’s deceitful nature ultimately puts the kingdom at risk. Ashley Case, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 California lawmakers should have first fixed the current deceitful ballot and campaign practices of local agencies and businesses that financially benefit from passage of bond measures. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deceitful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceitful
Adjective
  • Noon in the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: Someone stole the victim’s credit cards and cell phone and later made several fraudulent charges.
    Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Cash App is expected to pay out up to $15 million in a settlement over two data security incidents and company practices around unauthorized account access and fraudulent transactions.
    Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Because of this, fans and former cast members have accused the producers of deceptive editing or depicting inaccurate narratives.
    Monique Wilson, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2024
  • Hidden fees, deceptive photos, and rigged reviews are some of the pitfalls to watch out for when booking vacation rentals.
    Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Because there are five meaningful ways that honest messaging beats dishonest marketing.
    Drew Gerber, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Whereas John Kerry at his convention had struggled to create meaning—no matter how stupid, dishonest, or clichéd—George Bush seemed to be plotting its demise.
    Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Bear in mind that his campaign was replete with false claims — about immigration, jobs, inflation, crime and more.
    Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Oz is the Penguin now — like everyone in Batman’s Rogues Gallery, a caricature of his own trauma, drawn to criminal means of false liberation.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near deceitful

Cite this Entry

“Deceitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceitful. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on deceitful

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