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
Your deceptive advertising and stingy preparation cost you some customers.
—
Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Investigators said the inspections were done for Keith Smith, the owner of Oilogoy, who has been charged by Cranberry police for deceptive and fraudulent business practices.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Then again, averages can be deceptive.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
The recovered funds come from 89 separate settlements and other restitution paid back by doctors, nurses and health care systems after fraud investigations related to deceptive billing practices, pill and medication theft, and other fraud.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
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Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Investigators said the inspections were done for Keith Smith, the owner of Oilogoy, who has been charged by Cranberry police for deceptive and fraudulent business practices.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Then again, averages can be deceptive.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
The recovered funds come from 89 separate settlements and other restitution paid back by doctors, nurses and health care systems after fraud investigations related to deceptive billing practices, pill and medication theft, and other fraud.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 27 Feb. 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 14 Mar. 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
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