deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv 
: tending or having power to cause someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : tending or having power to deceive
a deceptive appearance
a pitcher with a deceptive windup
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Examples of deceptive in a Sentence
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
Recent Examples on the Web
Samuel Nana Opoku, a resident of Fairfax County, Virginia, is facing charges of money laundering, felony theft by taking, five counts of identity fraud, and initiation of deceptive commercial email.
—
Dan Raby, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The site of the deadliest avalanche in California history is a surprisingly peaceful ravine, highlighting the deceptive nature of the terrain that claimed nine lives.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Also, offering free samples is deceptive marketing, due to evidence that 7-OH is addictive.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
In 2023, the FTC under President Joe Biden levied a $5 billion penalty against Facebook for improperly allowing third-party apps to access certain users’ information and deceptive policies related to facial recognition, among others.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
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.
Dan Raby, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The site of the deadliest avalanche in California history is a surprisingly peaceful ravine, highlighting the deceptive nature of the terrain that claimed nine lives.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Also, offering free samples is deceptive marketing, due to evidence that 7-OH is addictive.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
In 2023, the FTC under President Joe Biden levied a $5 billion penalty against Facebook for improperly allowing third-party apps to access certain users’ information and deceptive policies related to facial recognition, among others.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceptive. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having power to deceive : misleading
a deceptive appearance
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Legal Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having capacity to deceive
deceptive trade practices
compare fraudulent, misleading
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
