1
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceitfulness
the tendency to tell lies
she's completely free of deceit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deceit
Emotional confusion, even deceit, and certainly judgmental attitudes are in the air.
—
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Standing against them is notorious kingpin Bada Chaudhary (Sharad Kelkar), whose syndicate operates through layers of deceit through corridors in Saudi Arabia, Ethopia, Italy, Thailand and the UK.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The owner of a popular Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant has been sentenced to federal prison in a bribery scheme, but prosecutors are now accusing him of getting a lighter prison term through deceit.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
The boys are perhaps too simple and too sheltered, and can’t access the casual judgment that has to exist behind irony, or the desire to manipulate that is behind even very small deceits.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Standing against them is notorious kingpin Bada Chaudhary (Sharad Kelkar), whose syndicate operates through layers of deceit through corridors in Saudi Arabia, Ethopia, Italy, Thailand and the UK.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The owner of a popular Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant has been sentenced to federal prison in a bribery scheme, but prosecutors are now accusing him of getting a lighter prison term through deceit.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
The boys are perhaps too simple and too sheltered, and can’t access the casual judgment that has to exist behind irony, or the desire to manipulate that is behind even very small deceits.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceit
Noun
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Named one of the 10 Best Books of 2025 by The New York Times, Angel Down follows Private Cyril Bagger, who has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of WWI through his wits and deception, swindling fellow soldiers at every opportunity.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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The drama about power, deception, and the complex bond between father and son is set in 1930s New York as international financier Gregor Antonescu’s empire faces collapse.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The video’s footage amplifies the flagrant dishonesty of the Administration’s statements about the threat Alex Pretti posed to the multiple officers who were physically restraining him before he was killed.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
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His pardons also disproportionately favored crimes involving dishonesty, Osler wrote.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In June, she was invited to appear before the Federal Trade Commission as a panelist to explain the harms of PGM from a consumer fraud perspective.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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When he was arrested on theft and fraud charges in 2023, contractor Ricky McGraw was held up as the poster child for Florida’s crumbling insurance market.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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An honor council, comprised of administrators, teachers, and members of the student government, would sit in judgment on cases of alleged cheating.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the wake of the cheating, FIS has modified its rules and brought in a coordinator to oversee screening of gear and hired former Austrian ski jumper Mathias Hafele to work as equipment expert.—
Brian Melley,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Because Maradona, in a burst of cunning and trickery, also used his hand.—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
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Landing a good apartment in New York City can take some cunning.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceit. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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