DECEITFUL Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

deceitful

adjective

di-ˈsēt-fəl

Definition of deceitful next

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

as in deceptive

tending or having power to deceive the deceitful salesman neglected to mention some important information about the used car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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 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 deceitful 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

The Play Store app purge focuses on lower-quality, likely higher-risk apps, most of which are free but which open users to malware or fraudulent ads or subs.

Zak Doffman, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
In a move to embrace widespread change brought on by AI, Ledger integrated the Flex and the Stax with its app, Ledger Security Key, which employs two-factor authentication and passkey capabilities for serious protection against fraudulent activity.

Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024