1
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deceptive
Ticketmaster’s failure to disclose the obstruction may well cross into deceptive trade practices.
—
Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Virginia Republicans have filed a lawsuit to overturn the results, arguing the ballot question was deceptive.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit also alleges violations of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2026
The suit alleges negligence, personal injury and deceptive business practices.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Virginia Republicans have filed a lawsuit to overturn the results, arguing the ballot question was deceptive.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit also alleges violations of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2026
The suit alleges negligence, personal injury and deceptive business practices.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceptive
Adjective
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However, he was later granted a new trial after a judge ruled that star witness Duane Deaver, a State Bureau of Investigation crime lab agent, provided misleading and false testimony, per WRAL.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Cass County Emergency Services Board, National Weather Service and Everbridge are investigating the cause of the misleading notifications.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Legislators passed an emergency certification bill in February that increases fines for fraudulent redemption, requires redemption centers to keep track of bulk drop-offs and allows local police to go after out-of-state violators.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
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First, Jones submitted fraudulent expense reimbursement requests for fictitious business expenses.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But that confidence could harbor false hope, says Kelly Richardson, principal of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for offering community association advice, and a monthly contributing writer to the Southern California News Group.—
Amancai Biraben,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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The indictment also charges Meade and West each with one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the Internal Revenue Service, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws and seven counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false documents, officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The campsites are nestled in a shady valley about a half-mile walk from the ferry port.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Nancy Pelosi found a shady spot under a tree.—
James Reginato,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If the dishonest ballot language is approved, at least county residents have reasons to hope state courts will protect them.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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But Marking alleges, according to documents obtained by The Bee, that the board and former Superintendent Lisa Allen were well aware of the district’s financial picture when the contract was approved and that trustees have been dishonest about it in the months since.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The crooked lawyer, played by Bridget Regan, on ABC's police procedural series, died in the penultimate episode of Season 8 in a dramatic cliffhanger ahead of next week's finale.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The willow out front, where the children used to play, was thick and crooked with age.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceptive. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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