1
as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value charged the store owner with such deceitful practices as inflating the list prices for items only so he could put them on sale at drastically reduced prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective deceitful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deceitful are dishonest, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When would dishonest be a good substitute for deceitful?

In some situations, the words dishonest and deceitful are roughly equivalent. However, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

Where would mendacious be a reasonable alternative to deceitful?

The meanings of mendacious and deceitful largely overlap; however, mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

When might untruthful be a better fit than deceitful?

While the synonyms untruthful and deceitful are close in meaning, untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deceitful Although many online gambling venues have terms of service that bar underage use, some teens use deceitful methods to sidestep state law. Adam Hudacek, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025 This discrepancy doesn’t necessarily mean that companies are being deceitful. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025 Some are even using AI for things that feel small but can still be deceitful. Essence, 14 Feb. 2025 The governor needs to stop being deceitful with the people’s money and prioritize services that impact everyday Californians’ lives. Alexandra MacEdo, Orange County Register, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deceitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceitful
Adjective
  • In 2024, Nicolás Maduro won his reelection in a race contested as fraudulent by the opposition.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 19 May 2025
  • Real examples: Six people were charged with attempting to steal $80 million through fraudulent checks tied to COVID-19 relief funds.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the 1970s, information about the Tuskegee study – a deceptive and unethical 40-year study of untreated syphilis in Black men – came to light.
    Christine Coughlin, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
  • Anyone wanting to fight such usage would have to rely on deceptive practice laws, trademark and copyright protection, and state-specific laws protecting a person's name, image, and likeness.
    Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • There's also research showing that AI agents can easily be subversive, self-serving and dishonest in their actions.
    Lisa Loud, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • That’s a fact, so saying otherwise is dishonest and can lead to confusion.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now their weird discomfort with disease—and their outré views on cancer in particular—is being refracted through a sea of false, indecent speculations.
    Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
  • This discrepancy hindered the adoption of BI, which might further damage AI by generating models that are trained with false assumptions and generate erroneous predictions.
    Artyom Keydunov, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deceitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceitful. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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