DUPLICITOUS Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

duplicitous

adjective

du̇-ˈpli-sə-təs

Definition of duplicitous

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 Infiltrate a swanky New York law firm that may be duplicitous in the opioid crisis, an epidemic that also happens to have taken the life of her daughter. — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 14 June 2026 The takeaway, then, isn’t that students are duplicitous and depraved or that technology has eroded their moral core. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026 After backing out of an agreement to trade first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for Crosby, DeCosta was decried as dishonorable, dirty and duplicitous, especially after Baltimore signed another accomplished edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson, to a free-agent deal the following day. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 Their duplicitous conduct during negotiations is countered by the cold honesty of Iranian missiles. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for duplicitous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duplicitous

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

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

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

In other words, surveillance technology is responsible for taking 50 crooked cops off the beat.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Seeing no evil are legions of crooked operators — customs inspectors, tax agents, military commanders, among other enablers.

— Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of crooked

Browse Nearby Words

duplicators

duplicitous

duplicity

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Duplicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duplicitous. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of duplicitous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes