deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv 
: tending or having power to cause someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : tending or having power to deceive
a deceptive appearance
a pitcher with a deceptive windup
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Examples of deceptive in a Sentence
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s the hook that often leads to a link to a subscription service that turns out to be costly and/or deceptive.
—
Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Here Hathaway is divine and deceptive in equal measure, offering a kind of thesis statement for her whole deal as an actress.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
The release noted that this is not the first time Albertsons faced deceptive pricing allegations tied to BOGO promotions in the Pacific Northwest.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Several advocacy groups challenged the report's findings, describing them as deceptive and contradictory.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
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Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Here Hathaway is divine and deceptive in equal measure, offering a kind of thesis statement for her whole deal as an actress.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
The release noted that this is not the first time Albertsons faced deceptive pricing allegations tied to BOGO promotions in the Pacific Northwest.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Several advocacy groups challenged the report's findings, describing them as deceptive and contradictory.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceptive. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having power to deceive : misleading
a deceptive appearance
deceptively
adverb
deceptiveness
noun
Legal Definition
deceptive
adjective
de·cep·tive
di-ˈsep-tiv
: tending or having capacity to deceive
deceptive trade practices
compare fraudulent, misleading
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