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

In contrast to the chaotic action all around him, Cunningham plays with a kind of deceptive simplicity, which is a reflection of his ability to process so much complexity. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026

Florida also regulates how nurses promote their specializations to prevent deceptive or misleading advertising. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026

The felony charges are forgery and deceptive or fraudulent business practices. —Michael Guise, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026

All clever touches and deceptive movement, this was the Eze Arsenal couldn’t bear to miss out on. —Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 23 Feb. 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