1
2
: an attempt or device to deceive : trick
Her excuse turned out to be a deceit.
3
: the quality of being dishonest or misleading : the quality of being deceitful : deceitfulness
… far from deceit or guile.—
John Milton
John MiltonSynonyms
Examples of deceit in a Sentence
a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit
she's completely free of deceit
Recent Examples on the Web
The film depicts a struggling impersonator of P. Ramlee, Malaysia’s most famous film director, who lives a life of deceit while trying to pay off debts and save his sister’s life.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Entrepreneurs, as well as their investors, partners, and employees risk becoming complicit in deceit when reality does not meet expectations.
—Iese Business School, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
This ongoing effort has created a web of cruelty, deceit, and corruption in which many unfortunate people are ensnared.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Still, the lawsuit has exposed layers of contradictions and deceit in the Saudi government’s portrayal of Omar al-Bayoumi, a middle-aged Saudi graduate student in San Diego who was the central figure in the hijackers’ support network.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deceit 
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Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Entrepreneurs, as well as their investors, partners, and employees risk becoming complicit in deceit when reality does not meet expectations.
—Iese Business School, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
This ongoing effort has created a web of cruelty, deceit, and corruption in which many unfortunate people are ensnared.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Still, the lawsuit has exposed layers of contradictions and deceit in the Saudi government’s portrayal of Omar al-Bayoumi, a middle-aged Saudi graduate student in San Diego who was the central figure in the hijackers’ support network.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deceit
Dictionary Entries Near deceit
Cite this Entry
“Deceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceit. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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