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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2
as in deceitfulness
the tendency to tell lies
she's completely free of deceit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deceit
Her deceit, like much of Gatlin’s fraudulent invoices, are recorded in emails the Herald obtained through a public records request.
—
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
The players expected a Hammon special; their coach is known for drawing up clever plays involving misdirection and deceit.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
Zelensky is hobbled at home, power cuts and frontline casualties blighting morale, and the repeat agony of loss, diplomatic deceit and pressure, coupled with ebbing aid, lead so many to question where this story ends without a growing Russian win?
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
Molière’s play indicts Orgon’s credulity and Tartuffe’s deceit equally.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
The players expected a Hammon special; their coach is known for drawing up clever plays involving misdirection and deceit.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
Zelensky is hobbled at home, power cuts and frontline casualties blighting morale, and the repeat agony of loss, diplomatic deceit and pressure, coupled with ebbing aid, lead so many to question where this story ends without a growing Russian win?
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
Molière’s play indicts Orgon’s credulity and Tartuffe’s deceit equally.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deceit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceit
Noun
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McCoy is charged with theft by deception, violation of oath of office, and three counts of false statements and writings.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Harper got fired for the aforementioned deception.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 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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Waiting for him there, fuming from a bench with an unobstructed view of the North Portico, is the living manifestation of dishonesty.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
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The problem isn’t that my girlfriend wouldn’t get to go, but the disrespect and dishonesty of uninviting her out of the blue and trying to cover it up as being a genuine mistake.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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New York Attorney General Letitia James asked a federal judge Friday to dismiss a mortgage fraud case against her, calling it a vindictive and politically motivated prosecution brought at the behest of a president who regards her as an enemy.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Quick action can sometimes limit further loss or help investigators trace the fraud.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Instead, tax enforcement has been starved, and large-scale cheating has proliferated.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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The process seems to be amicable; there was no cheating or abuse.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
6 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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