deceive

[dih-seev]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deceive ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), de·ceived, de·ceiv·ing.

to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude: They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter.

to be unfaithful to (one's spouse or lover).

Archaic. to while away (time).

verb (used without object), de·ceived, de·ceiv·ing.

to mislead or falsely persuade others; practice deceit: an engaging manner that easily deceives.

Origin of deceive

1250–1300; Middle English deceiven < Old French deceivre < Latin dēcipere, literally, to ensnare, equivalent to dē- de- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take

Related formsde·ceiv·a·ble·ness, de·ceiv·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·ceiv·a·bly, adverbde·ceiv·er, nounde·ceiv·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·de·ceive, verb, in·ter·de·ceived, in·ter·de·ceiv·ing.non·de·ceiv·ing, adjectivepre·de·ceive, verb (used with object), pre·de·ceived, pre·de·ceiv·ing.pre·de·ceiv·er, nounre·de·ceive, verb (used with object), re·de·ceived, re·de·ceiv·ing.well-de·ceived, adjective

Synonyms for deceive

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deceive ON THESAURUS.COM

1. cozen, dupe, fool, gull, hoodwink, trick, defraud, outwit, entrap, ensnare, betray.

Synonym study

1. See cheat.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for deceivingly

falsely, slyly, wrongly, crookedly, deceivingly, deceptively

British Dictionary definitions for deceivingly

deceive

verb (tr)

to mislead by deliberate misrepresentation or lies

to delude (oneself)

to be unfaithful to (one's sexual partner)

archaic to disappointhis hopes were deceived

Derived Formsdeceivable, adjectivedeceivably, adverbdeceivableness or deceivability, noundeceiver, noundeceiving, noun, adjectivedeceivingly, adverb

Word Origin for deceive

C13: from Old French deceivre, from Latin dēcipere to ensnare, cheat, from capere to take

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for deceivingly

deceive

c.1300, from Old French decevoir (12c., Modern French décevoir) "to deceive," from Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de- "from" or pejorative + capere "to take" (see capable). Related: Deceived; deceiver; deceiving.