deceptively
Americanadverb
-
in a way that tends to mislead or give a false impression.
This game is played with such deceptively simple materials, yet is so interestingly complex!
Some of these harmful foods are deceptively marketed as "healthy" by giant food corporations.
-
in a way that is perceptually misleading.
If only a segment of sky is visible, the bands of Earth’s shadow and the Belt of Venus appear deceptively parallel.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deceptively
First recorded in 1810–20; deceptive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It centered on a deceptively simple question: Why do estate plans fail?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The deceptively simple work is part sculpture, part assemblage, part collage and features a vintage wooden ironing board set beside a white sheet hung on a line with six wooden clothespins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Of all the conditions that make childbearing seem possible, one is the most deceptively simple: increasing the number of men who would make good fathers.
From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026
It’s deceptively conventional, with an axial structure and a conglomerate of relatively full chroma set against an off-white background.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
Candice, even with wobbly legs, was deceptively fast.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
