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Definition of deceit
1 : the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act or practice of deceiving : deception achieving one's goals through a web of deceit
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
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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 of deceit from the Web
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The facts unambiguously point to defendants’ deceit, self-dealing and fraud, which demand to be exposed.
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Indeed, this year's Shakespeare in the Park production, produced by the New York's Public Theater, puts a present-day twist on the ancient tale of power, deceit and rebellion: The backdrop includes American icons and images of past presidents.
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Ultimately, despite all their layers of drama and deceit, the characters' lives still at least vaguely resembled those of the series' viewers.
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In the last instance, Philby is driven by the incurable drug of deceit itself.
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But the extent of his (and eventually his family’s) deceit was only revealed in 2012.
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Politics at all levels requires smooth, charismatic deceit.
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The deceit and trickery was offset by the physical comedy of the story.
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Antoine previously operated a wedding photography business and was prosecuted by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office on charges of stealing by deceit and unlawful merchandising practices.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deceit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of deceit
Middle English deceite, from Anglo-French, from Latin decepta, feminine of deceptus, past participle of decipere —see deceive
DECEIT Defined for English Language Learners
deceit
playDefinition of deceit for English Language Learners
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: dishonest behavior : behavior that is meant to fool or trick someone
DECEIT Defined for Kids
deceit
playDefinition of deceit for Students
1 : the act or practice of making someone believe something that is not true : deception The villain used deceit to further his evil plan.
2 : a statement or act that is meant to fool or trick someone We saw through her deceit.
3 : the quality of being dishonest
Law Dictionary
deceit
Legal Definition of deceit
: deliberate and misleading concealment, false declaration, or artifice : deception theft by deceit; also : the tort of committing or carrying out deceit an action for deceit — see also fraud, misrepresentation
Learn More about deceit
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See words that rhyme with deceit Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for deceit Spanish Central: Translation of deceit Nglish: Translation of deceit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of deceit for Arabic speakers
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