double-dealing

1 of 2

noun (1)

dou·​ble-deal·​ing ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-liŋ 

: action contradictory to a professed attitude : duplicity

double-dealer

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-lər 

noun

double-dealer

2 of 2

noun (2)

: one who practices double-dealing

Synonyms of double-dealing

Noun (1)

• deception
• deceit
• deceptiveness
• cheating
• cunning
• fraud
• deceitfulness

Choose the Right Synonym for double-dealing

deception, fraud, double-dealing, subterfuge, trickery mean the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives.

deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Examples of double-dealing in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For some of King’s followers, her double-dealing also is difficult to let go. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

But that rhetoric sounded hollow in the face of its dalliance with a drug-smuggling double-dealing despot like Noriega. —Time, 25 Nov. 2025

Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated). —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Mullen's righthand man, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), was double-dealing with billionaire Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg), who ultimately ordered a hit on him in Episode 4. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025

Through his double-dealing with the government, Carmine Falcone was Gotham’s top crime boss for over two decades, accruing massive wealth, political influence, and an elite status. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024

Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

While the Biden Administration seems to perceive Cambodia as an amenable partner, Manet is double-dealing Beijing and Washington. —Sam Rainsy, TIME, 24 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for double-dealing

• snowmobiling
• unappealing
• annealing
• appealing
• concealing
• congealing
• freewheeling
• repealing
• revealing
• unfeeling
• ceiling
• dealing

Kids Definition

double-dealing

noun

dou·​ble-deal·​ing

ˌdəb-əl-ˈdē-liŋ

: duplicity

double-dealer noun

double-dealing adjective