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
a go-between suspected of double-dealingAdjectivedouble-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
Noun
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double-dealing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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