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

Advertisement In his first term, President Trump wasn’t happy with Pakistan and described its establishment as deceitful. —Mohammed Hanif, Time, 2 Sep. 2025

Kelley allegedly sent deceitful emails to unwitting postal employees between 2019 and 2023, telling them to intercept packages that were determined to have been sent by victims of a Jamaican scam that targeted Americans. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Everybody’s playing, everybody’s being deceitful, and Matthew isn’t the worst. —William Earl, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025

This newsletter, Translating Politics, was created to help readers sift through Donald Trump’s always chaotic and often deceitful rhetoric during his second term as president. —Chris Brennan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025