as in deceived
to cause to believe what is untrue
we were duped into thinking the dummy was a real alien
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of duped
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Joe Sargent / Getty Images In a sign of a growing fissure between two Cleveland Guardians pitchers facing charges tied to a pitch-rigging scheme that benefited gamblers, a lawyer for Luis Ortiz said his client was among those duped by teammate and co-defendant Emmanuel Clase.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Local media have detailed how citizens were duped into becoming mercenaries for Russia in Ukraine and officials have warned others against following suit.
—Larry Madowo, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
As the Delaware Valley digs out from this weekend's storm, officials are warning people to be careful so they don't get duped.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Last year, an employee working for a multinational firm was duped into wiring millions of dollars during a conference call.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Before a victim falls prey to a scam, they are often duped in a quick, emotional, panic-inducing way.
—Caroline Melear, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
The movie follows a group of petty cheats, liars and drunks who are duped by nefarious opportunists who visit their crumbling town.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Crowds of people apparently duped by misleading social media posts braved the cold for a New Year’s Eve fireworks show at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
Stalcup says Kastleman was duped just like Overwatch was with the information Stalcup alleges was stolen by a former GVA analyst.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Joe Sargent / Getty Images In a sign of a growing fissure between two Cleveland Guardians pitchers facing charges tied to a pitch-rigging scheme that benefited gamblers, a lawyer for Luis Ortiz said his client was among those duped by teammate and co-defendant Emmanuel Clase.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Local media have detailed how citizens were duped into becoming mercenaries for Russia in Ukraine and officials have warned others against following suit.
—Larry Madowo, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
As the Delaware Valley digs out from this weekend's storm, officials are warning people to be careful so they don't get duped.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Last year, an employee working for a multinational firm was duped into wiring millions of dollars during a conference call.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Before a victim falls prey to a scam, they are often duped in a quick, emotional, panic-inducing way.
—Caroline Melear, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
The movie follows a group of petty cheats, liars and drunks who are duped by nefarious opportunists who visit their crumbling town.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Crowds of people apparently duped by misleading social media posts braved the cold for a New Year’s Eve fireworks show at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duped
Adjective
-
O’Hara relished playing deluded snobs like this wealthy Manhattanite with artistic ambitions from director Tim Burton’s horror comedy about two dead owners of a country house who want to drive out its new buyers.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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That sequence also introduces a placidly smiley Kylie Jenner playing herself on seemingly a Valium-Adderall speedball of deluded bounciness.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And don’t be deceived by Saturday’s sunny skies as the high will be 32 with wind chills as low as 9 degrees.—
Amanda McCoy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
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Challengers should give Marylanders the option to choose a new direction and remove the need to confront the painful reality that they were deceived.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Heathcliff has tricked Edgar’s sister, Isabella, into marrying him by pretending to love her.—
Becky Little,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Experts say such scam operations in Cambodia and elsewhere have cheated people around the world out of billions of dollars and tricked people from many countries to work in them under slave-like conditions.—
Sakchai Lalit,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Guillard, 41, of Houston, published more than 100 videos that made erroneous allegations against Scofield, according to court records.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The statement updated an earlier erroneous statement that the mall closed, police said.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Also, don’t be fooled by the Big 12’s midpoint remaining basically unchanged.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Don't be fooled by false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides).—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duped. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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