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
Set in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the grandiosity of MoMA is deceptive.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
As one of the most dog-friendly states, Colorado must update its laws to ensure our state’s love for dogs is not being taken advantage of by the puppy mill industry and its deceptive tactics.
—Elise Gingrich, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Hanaway characterized the stores as deceptive drug peddlers.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
The second theory was unfair practice, or conduct offensive to public policy, even if not technically deceptive.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 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.
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
As one of the most dog-friendly states, Colorado must update its laws to ensure our state’s love for dogs is not being taken advantage of by the puppy mill industry and its deceptive tactics.
—Elise Gingrich, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Hanaway characterized the stores as deceptive drug peddlers.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
The second theory was unfair practice, or conduct offensive to public policy, even if not technically deceptive.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 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 30 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
