deceptively

adverb

as in falsely

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 deceptively But this corner of the world is a deceptively fraught geopolitical hotspot. — Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 The result is a cabin that makes the Seltos’ exterior footprint seem deceptively small. — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Novo Nordisk, the maker of the GLP-1 medication Wegovy, filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging Eli Lilly’s spots deceptively claim Wegovy is considerably weaker than Zepbound. — Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 21 July 2026 This free and fiery take on folk and indie pop could have benefitted from an edit that allowed its highlights to shine, but its deceptively soft, introspective parts are potent nonetheless. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 20 July 2026 Even as the arrangement stays deceptively simple, subtle electronic textures keep the song in constant motion. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026 How to Make Trisha Yearwood’s Blueberry Pie Bars A deceptively easy dessert that still hits the spot like a slice of homemade pie? — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026 Trump later filed a lawsuit alleging the network deceptively edited the interview — an accusation CBS denied. — ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026 The delightful and deceptively deep family mystery comedy stars Hugh Jackman as an English shepherd who is found dead. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceptively
  1. falsely
  2. artfully
  3. deceitfully
  4. dishonestly
  5. artificially
  6. unnaturally
  7. cannily
  8. hypocritically
Adverb
  • Defense lawyers say the woman arrested in the 2012 killing of Irasema Chavez in Arlington has been falsely accused and are asking the court to set bail for the defendant.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • Prosecutors say Goldstein diverted money from his law firm to pay gambling debts and falsely deducting gambling debts as business expenses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Definition of falsely
Adverb
  • The single-sided swingarm back there reveals a custom suspension setup from Wilbers, with the front forks artfully clad in aluminum panels.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 July 2026
  • Room service is spectacular—impeccably delivered and artfully plated, best enjoyed from your private terrace overlooking the lake.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of artfully
Adverb
  • Jacob goes to Isaac with this hairy disguise, deceitfully announces himself as Esau, and obtains his father’s blessing—much to the chagrin of his brother.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
  • To help fill their coffers even more, the lobbyists deceitfully expanded the definition of those notch years to include everyone born through 1926.
    — Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of deceitfully
Adverb
  • In that lawsuit, State Farm said that the record only showed a disagreement over the cause of roof damage, and that there was no evidence the company had acted dishonestly.
    — Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Additional uses of geolocation data, the providers say, include proving a bettor is dishonestly disputing credit card charges, revealing sign-up bonus abuse or showing that someone is illegally making proxy wagers across state lines.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of dishonestly
Adverb
  • Some critics argue the practice borders on artificially inflating stock prices and often favors near-term shareholder returns at the expense of long-term business development.
    — Brian Krogol, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Instead of advertising accurate prices, ISPs like to advertise artificially low prices and then add all sorts of fees to subscribers’ monthly bills.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026
Definition of artificially
Adverb
  • The Paradigm 8 also tackles stability without causing that unnaturally stiff sensation.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • On a previous voyage, the captain—who is in his late fifties, with a young wife and child—pursued the gigantic, unnaturally white sperm whale known to mariners as Moby Dick.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of unnaturally
Adverb
  • Sections of the granite supports of the Keck statue are cannily manipulated and embellished with stars and swirling vortex-forms in Lithichrome paint into works of art themselves.
    — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
  • So begins a cycle of financial pressure, entrepreneurial hurdles, and major crimes committed out of desperation that cannily blurs the line between legitimate business strategy and the art of the con.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of cannily
Adverb
  • Trump hypocritically voted by mail himself in a recent Florida special election.
    — George Skelton, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of hypocritically

Browse Nearby Words

deceptive
deceptively
deceptiveness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deceptively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceptively. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All