DOUBLE-DEALINGS Synonyms: 229 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'double-dealing' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception , fraud , subterfuge , and trickery . While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude. // a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Q: When might 'deception' be a better fit than 'double-dealing'?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource. // magicians are masters of deception

Q: When is 'fraud' a more appropriate choice than 'double-dealing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing , fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice. // indicted for fraud

Q: When could 'subterfuge' be used to replace 'double-dealing'?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end. // obtained the papers by subterfuge

Q: When would 'trickery' be a good substitute for 'double-dealing'?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat. // resorted to trickery to gain their ends

double-dealing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of double-dealing

as in fraudulent

marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in double

not being or expressing what one appears to be or express the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

double-dealing

2 of 2

noun

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdē-liŋ

as in deception

the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery a go-between suspected of double-dealing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun double-dealing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception, fraud, subterfuge, and trickery. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

When might deception be a better fit than double-dealing?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than double-dealing?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace double-dealing?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

When would trickery be a good substitute for double-dealing?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

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 double-dealing

Adjective

The notion of reputational damage is alien to someone whose image was long ago tarnished beyond repair by grifting, lying, bullying, and double-dealing. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026

Noun

For some of King’s followers, her double-dealing also is difficult to let go. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026 But that rhetoric sounded hollow in the face of its dalliance with a drug-smuggling double-dealing despot like Noriega. — Time, 25 Nov. 2025 Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated). — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 Mullen's righthand man, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), was double-dealing with billionaire Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg), who ultimately ordered a hit on him in Episode 4. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025 Through his double-dealing with the government, Carmine Falcone was Gotham’s top crime boss for over two decades, accruing massive wealth, political influence, and an elite status. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024 Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love. — Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 While the Biden Administration seems to perceive Cambodia as an amenable partner, Manet is double-dealing Beijing and Washington. — Sam Rainsy, TIME, 24 June 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-dealing

Adjective

Section 548 in general states the bankruptcy law on fraudulent transfers.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Hatagan’s testimony at his sentencing undid the fraudulent invoices claim presented by prosecutors and that statute of limitations began when the alleged crime occurred, the motion stated.

— Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of fraudulent

Adjective

When Debbie, Susan, and Thom come over for a double-date pizza night, only Bret is concerned about the spate of recent home invasions, the missing pets, and the desecration of the griffin mascot.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Jorge Polanco, who snapped an 0-for-26 streak in the third inning with just his second homer of the season, keyed the rally with a two-out double off the left-field wall.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

The county attorney presented a plan to sue several big pharma companies for the deceptive marketing practices that triggered the opioid epidemic, following the pattern established by lawsuits filed against tobacco companies starting in the 1990s.

— Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Outside companies can test systems for cybersecurity risks, deceptive behavior, privacy failures, bias and dangerous capabilities.

— Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Noun

Recent history suggests that the only effective counter to such meddling is a public statement alerting voters to the deception, by some credibly neutral, nonpartisan authority.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Peter trying to have a normal holiday while grieving Tony, Mysterio’s deception, and the post-credits scene that blows Peter’s life apart — all of it feeds into where the new film finds him.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of deception

Adjective

There is an endless list of important takeaways from the new information, notably that Fauci was repeatedly and purposefully dishonest in order to get the public to comply with his policies and recommendations.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
But 52% of employees in that same study believe their company's efforts to be empathetic are dishonest.

— Dennis Kozak, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of dishonest

Adjective

Is this the same Panthea who hates anyone fake or putting things on?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Alongside its launch, Onton released research revealing that current top AI models struggle to filter out fake content and biased reviews—proving that today’s systems simply aren’t built for modern, noisy web environments.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Wait until fall to sod shady areas to prevent decline due to excessive moisture.

— Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
His name was carved on the same gravestone as Leslie’s, on a shady plot near the sea, but his ashes were scattered somewhere far from her bones.

— Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Definition of shady

Noun

When Gianni Infantino was chosen to replace Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA, he was seen as a reformer, someone who would bring transparency and openness to soccer’s international governing body, which had long been mired in scandal and deceit.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
In my view, to tell the story of America’s founding without referencing these profound scars is akin to deceit, if not complicity.

— Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Definition of deceit

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double-dealers

double-dealing

doubled (in)

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“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-dealing. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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