Synonyms of deceitful

deceitful

adjective

di-ˈsēt-fəl 

1

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

• fraudulent
• dishonest
• deceptive
• false
• misleading
• crooked
• duplicitous
• double-dealing
• defrauding
• delusive
• specious
• deceiving
• fallacious
• beguiling
• delusory
• deluding
• spurious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truthful
• honest
• true
• legitimate
• valid
• aboveboard

2

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

• deceptive
• misleading
• false
• delusive
• incorrect
• ambiguous
• specious
• deceiving
• fallacious
• beguiling
• fraudulent
• inaccurate
• delusory
• crooked
• cunning
• dishonest
• subtle
• deluding
• treacherous
• wily
• duplicitous
• underhanded
• devious
• crafty
• untrustworthy
• sneaky
• mendacious
• lying
• trick
• artful
• shifty
• slick
• sly
• perplexing
• shady
• untruthful
• puzzling
• underhand
• faithless
• wrong
• tricky
• subtile
• artificial
• foxy
• insidious
• perfidious
• counterfeit
• confounding
• guileful
• distracting
• evasive
• hypocritical
• forged
• fake
• bewildering
• knavish
• insincere
• bogus
• phony
• spurious
• sham
• trickish
• dissembling
• ambidextrous
• feigned
• circuitous
• equivocal
• defrauding
• double-dealing
• fast
• jive
• sneaking
• backhanded
• two-faced
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forthright
• straightforward
• plain
• direct
• outspoken
• frank
• open
• aboveboard
• candid
• nondeceptive
• straight
• illuminating
• explanatory
• truthful
• revealing
• trustworthy
• plainspoken
• openhearted
• honest
• free-spoken
• revelatory
• clarifying
• foursquare
• elucidative

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceitful

In classical Athens the playwright Aristophanes attacked purveyors of knowledge for being intellectually untrustworthy, essentially deceitful. — Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026

Worse yet, its structure is deceitful. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

Both the criticism and self-flagellation imply that the act of claiming another person’s words can render these words deceitful, even if the words have been paid for and the content is true. — Emily Hodgson Anderson, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2026

That downturn cost shareholders who sold their stock during the uncertainty caused by what the lawsuit alleges was Musk’s deceitful behavior. — Staff, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026