Synonyms of deceive

deceive

verb

di-ˈsēv 

as in to fool

to cause to believe what is untrue

he went to great lengths to deceive his family about the nature of his new job at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fool
• trick
• mislead
• delude
• tease
• misinform
• misguide
• beguile
• hoodwink
• dupe
• bamboozle
• kid
• cheat
• sucker
• bluff
• hoax
• suck in
• sting
• cozen
• catch
• humbug
• gull
• con
• juggle
• burn
• spoof
• have
• take in
• have on
• snow
• gaff
• buffalo
• gammon
• string along
• hornswoggle
• snooker
• defraud
• fake out
• pull one's leg
• lead one up the garden path
• do a number on
• lead one down the garden path
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• swindle
• shortchange
• stick
• put on
• bleed
• fleece
• mulct
• diddle
• skin
• hustle
• chisel
• squeeze
• rook
• euchre
• flimflam

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• expose
• uncover
• show up
• unmask
• disclose
• tell
• debunk
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disenchant

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deceive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deceive are beguile, delude, and mislead. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

In what contexts can beguile take the place of deceive?

Although the words beguile and deceive have much in common, beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When is delude a more appropriate choice than deceive?

While the synonyms delude and deceive are close in meaning, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

When is it sensible to use mislead instead of deceive?

The words mislead and deceive can be used in similar contexts, but mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceive

Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona Dortmund, Champions League finalists last year, have flattered to deceive this season. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Your red eyes and runny noses don’t deceive you—seasonal allergies are getting worse, a miserable reality for nearly one in three US adults and one in four children. —Umair Irfan, Wired News, 5 Apr. 2025

But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025