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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired
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3
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a go-between suspected of double-dealing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of double-dealing
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
Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 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
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
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
Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 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
-
Websites with unusually long browser names or a lack of searchable company representatives or contact information could be fraudulent.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Blount deposited money into the account until April 2022, when the bank shut it down and reversed over $70,000 worth of the fraudulent deposits, prosecutors said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With Ella Toone or Park in the No 10 role, the former Bayern Munich player will add balance in a double pivot alongside Hinata Miyazawa allowing United more control in midfield.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The Royals’ defense erased a potential rally in the fourth inning after Cameron surrendered a double to Rengifo and walked first baseman Oswald Peraza.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There will be a temptation because of his height to draw parallels with Moyes’ use of Marouane Fellaini and Soucek, two key pillars of his Everton and West Ham sides, but where Rohl is concerned, his size can be deceptive.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In 2024, CarShield paid $10 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission that its ads were deceptive and that customers discovered many repairs were not covered.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Interestingly, men, not women, were more open to benevolent deception.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The movie, with Baranov as its scoundrel tour guide, works its way through some of 21st century Russia’s greatest hits of deception.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Industry groups insist that they are committed to weeding out dishonest companies that make false claims or sell dangerous products.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
26 Aug. 2025
-
No, it was done to protect dishonest businesses.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert earlier in 2025 to encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with responding to a fake text.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
To make Reen feel comfortable and truly welcomed, Long’s entire extended family wore fake tattoo sleeves to the reunion.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Maybe not something drastic like a world war, slavery or the Holocaust, but there’s always shady s–t going on.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2025
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Meursault also starts hanging out with his shady and brutish French neighbor, Raymond (Pierre Lottin), whose abusive relationship with an Algerian girl (Hajar Bouzaouit) eventually leads to the murder.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His lurid saga — set in the tropics, the plot revolving around deceit and a dead body — would be just the sort of onscreen story PMI specialized in financing.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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And in a world where time is money, conditions are ripe for a perfect storm of greed, deceit, and willful gullibility—all in the hope of getting ahead faster than the rest.—
Luis E. Romero,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-dealing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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