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

Yes, Aptive is actively facing multiple class action lawsuits for deceptive marketing and contract terms. — Dan Simms, USA Today, 11 July 2026

That heightens the risk that Facebook and Instagram users will be targeted in deceptive deepfakes, NBC News reported. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

This measure is a craven, deceptive, regressive, and destructive push to gut local control and services, and hand power to a barely accountable central government in Tallahassee. — Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

The state agency said clinic staffers had clients sign a personal injury waiver, which the commission said was unenforceable, against public policy and deceptive and dishonest. — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 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