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

Synonyms of deceptive

• misleading
• false

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

The agency has said deceptive or unfair data practices can violate existing consumer protection laws. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

On March 24, a jury in New Mexico ruled that the social media giant willfully violated consumer protection laws by harming children's mental health through its deceptive product design. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

In 2009, after the advocacy group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood threatened a class-action lawsuit over deceptive marketing claims, Disney began offering every household a refund for up to four Baby Einstein DVDs. — Elise Broach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

If a food delivery service raises prices because its data shows a customer may be unable to leave home, that would be deceptive. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see deception

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deceptive

• looks can be deceiving/deceptive

Rhymes for deceptive

• perceptive
• receptive
• contraceptive
• nociceptive
• proprioceptive

Kids 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