Synonyms of deceive

deceive

verb

di-ˈsēv 

as in to fool

to cause to believe what is untrue

he went to great lengths to deceive his family about the nature of his new job at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fool
• trick
• mislead
• delude
• tease
• misinform
• misguide
• beguile
• hoodwink
• dupe
• bamboozle
• kid
• cheat
• sucker
• bluff
• hoax
• suck in
• sting
• cozen
• catch
• humbug
• gull
• con
• juggle
• burn
• spoof
• have
• take in
• have on
• snow
• gaff
• buffalo
• gammon
• string along
• hornswoggle
• snooker
• defraud
• fake out
• pull one's leg
• lead one up the garden path
• do a number on
• lead one down the garden path
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• swindle
• shortchange
• stick
• put on
• bleed
• fleece
• mulct
• diddle
• skin
• hustle
• chisel
• squeeze
• rook
• euchre
• flimflam

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• expose
• uncover
• show up
• unmask
• disclose
• tell
• debunk
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disenchant

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deceive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deceive are beguile, delude, and mislead. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

In what contexts can beguile take the place of deceive?

Although the words beguile and deceive have much in common, beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When is delude a more appropriate choice than deceive?

While the synonyms delude and deceive are close in meaning, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

When is it sensible to use mislead instead of deceive?

The words mislead and deceive can be used in similar contexts, but mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

Examples of deceive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ostensible realism of a play like Meghan Kennedy’s The Counter can be deceiving — not because fire is eventually going to rain from the sky or a unicorn enter stage right, but because deeply familiar people and places can lull us into reading only the surfaces of things. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024

Neglecting The Kitchen Sink Your sink may look spick-and-span, but looks can be deceiving. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024

Focusing On Real Life Interactions To Avoid Deception Many users report feeling deceived and disappointed after getting emotionally invested in someone over text, only to discover that the person had been dishonest. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024

After the report was released, Schiff slammed Barr for deceiving the nation to protect Trump. —Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024