: given to or marked by duplicity
Examples of double-dealing in a Sentence
Noun
a go-between suspected of double-dealing
Adjective
double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general
the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired
the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
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
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
Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 July 2023
Having a computer be the antagonistic heart of the film instead of a human baddie is a huge swing, though, and consequently this first of a two-part story line faces some narrative obstacles amid the usual face-swapping, double-dealing spycraft.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 July 2023
Dive into these series for the thrill of family backstabbing, corporate double-dealing or simply for the maladjusted — and wealthy and/or powerful — bringing out the worst in one another, typically (except for a few aspirational exceptions).
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2023
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Noun
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
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
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
Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 July 2023
Having a computer be the antagonistic heart of the film instead of a human baddie is a huge swing, though, and consequently this first of a two-part story line faces some narrative obstacles amid the usual face-swapping, double-dealing spycraft.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 July 2023
Dive into these series for the thrill of family backstabbing, corporate double-dealing or simply for the maladjusted — and wealthy and/or powerful — bringing out the worst in one another, typically (except for a few aspirational exceptions).
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-dealing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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