Definition
Deceptive refers to something that gives a false impression or is meant to mislead or deceive someone.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Adjective
Synonyms
Misleading, dishonest, false, delusive, fraudulent, fallacious, specious, deceitful
Antonyms
Honest, truthful, straightforward, genuine, candid, sincere
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | deceptiveness, deceivers, deceptions, deceiver, deception, deceptivenesses |
| Verb | deceive, deceiving, deceives, deceived |
| Adjective | deceptive |
| Adverb | deceptively |
Example Sentences
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The company used deceptive advertising to lure customers into buying their products.
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The politician’s speech was filled with deceptive statements to win over voters.
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The magician used deceptive techniques to create the illusion of levitation.
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The used car salesman was known for his deceptive practices, often hiding the true condition of the cars he sold.
Usage
The word deceptive can be used to describe anything that is designed to mislead or give a false impression. It is often used to describe advertising or marketing tactics that use false or exaggerated claims to sell a product or service. It can also be used to describe people who are intentionally dishonest or misleading, such as con artists or fraudsters.
The prefix “de-” in deceptive indicates a reversal or negation, suggesting that the thing being described is not what it appears to be. Similarly, the suffix “-ive” indicates that the thing is characterized by the quality of deception or misleadingness.
One related word with a similar root is “deceive,” which is a verb that means to trick or mislead someone. Other related words with the same suffix include “perceptive,” which means having a sharp or insightful understanding of things, and “receptive,” which means open or responsive to new ideas or suggestions.