double-dealing 1 of 2

1
as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

double-dealing

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun double-dealing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception, fraud, subterfuge, and trickery. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

When might deception be a better fit than double-dealing?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than double-dealing?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace double-dealing?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When would trickery be a good substitute for double-dealing?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of double-dealing
Noun
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-dealing
Adjective
  • This minimizes the risk of landing on a fraudulent page designed to mimic a legitimate website.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • If the auditor comes to believe that the taxpayer engaged in fraudulent behavior, the auditor must stop the audit and refer the matter to Criminal Investigation (CI).
    Bruce Brumberg, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This total solar eclipse— which brings a brief darkness in the day — occurs during peak viewing season for the aurora borealis, offering a potential double celestial event.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong got a superb secondary lead and jump to beat a throw to second base on a routine grounder with two outs to load the bases, setting up Miguel Amaya’s three-run double.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • However, when adjusted for inflation, real prices in Turkey have dropped by 10.4 percent, illustrating how price growth can be deceptive without factoring in inflation.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Had these assessments been conducted, issues like algorithmic bias, content manipulation and deceptive AI practices would have been flagged before litigators intervened.
    Patrick Sullivan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This capability to detect deception should be a warning to everyone who relies on AI for critical thinking tasks.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Not only do language barriers complicate your talking with her parents, but the deception has already begun — this girl has been regularly visiting your home under false pretenses.
    Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • All Republicans in the General Assembly are lame ducks and Shoemaker is being dishonest in his criticism of me for not towing the party’s strategy of failure.
    Christopher Eric Bouchat, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Their termination e-mails were short, impersonal, and, in many cases, dishonest.
    E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • These platforms sell complete phishing kits—web hosting, SMS delivery systems, fake landing pages, encryption tools—to other cybercriminals who want to run scams at scale.
    Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, admitted to filing bogus campaign finance reports filled with fake donors and a fake $500,000 personal loan from Santos.
    Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s implied that before going into construction, Levon had brought his military training into civilian life in some shady (though likely heroic) capacity or another — maybe even kidnap recovery.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
  • During a recent conversation with legendary radio host Big Boy, the 26-year-old spoke about her haters and shady tension that led to this notion.
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • As part of a review of the unit, police officials wrote that Brown, the detective assigned to the Shores case, did not investigate it for more than a year and left behind signs of suspicious activity or possible deceit.
    Ian Cummings, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
  • When confronted, deceit turns their romantic evening into a darkly comedic nightmare.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-dealing. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!