as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
warned her not to trust the duplicitous art dealer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 duplicitous
Even as the Deliriant and his pint-size accomplice attempt to hoodwink a monster, they’re left to wonder, poignantly, if anything in their duplicitous world is real.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
Because, to a certain extent, Molina is duplicitous, not in a negative way, but as a way of survival.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2025
Soon, the entire room was awash with clippings, each detailing a different duplicitous scheme — a depressing reflection of how scam culture was taking over my country, eroding our trust in each other.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, my mom was irresponsible and even duplicitous about money many times over the years.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duplicitous
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
Because, to a certain extent, Molina is duplicitous, not in a negative way, but as a way of survival.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2025
Soon, the entire room was awash with clippings, each detailing a different duplicitous scheme — a depressing reflection of how scam culture was taking over my country, eroding our trust in each other.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, my mom was irresponsible and even duplicitous about money many times over the years.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duplicitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicitous
Adjective
-
Locked doors, bloody bits in trunks, deceptive lovers with ill intentions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Even one of the more reputable internet weather personalities, Ryan Hall, whose YouTube channel staffs a team of meteorologists, and who has more than three million subscribers, often opts for flashy graphics and deceptive provocations to increase engagement.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Investors in a fraudulent clean energy scheme might be one step closer to getting their money back, after the partner of a Chicago area businessman pleaded guilty to federal charges.—
Steffanie Dupree,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In California alone, nearly a third of all community college applicants in 2024 were identified as fraudulent, according to the California Community Colleges, the state's administrative body for the community college system.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Mary sends me shady TikToks about the other girls sometimes.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Full sun today, combined with winds, should help with melting of ice, with the exception shady spots in the Hill Country and into northwest Travis and Williamson counties.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Like the other characters in the book, Harper is a stock figure, the brainiac child, but her fearlessness in the face of a crumbling, dishonest world reinvigorates the type.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The American public gained a negative impression of McCarthy–many seeing him as bullying, reckless, and dishonest.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Ron Leibman and Paul Sand round out their gang, with Zero Mostel as the crooked attorney who serves as a go-between.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duplicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicitous. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
