deceptively

[dih-sep-tiv-lee]

adverb

1. 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.

2. 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

• nondeceptively adverb
• undeceptively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deceptively¹

First recorded in 1810–20; deceptive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Job seekers have complained for some time now—to me, their friends, pets or anyone who will listen—that it is deceptively hard to get hired.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The FTC also accused Ticketmaster of deceptively advertising lower prices for tickets than what consumers actually pay.

Read more on BBC

A deceptively quiet role in a deceptively quiet series, it was astonishingly powerful.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The venue, while deceptively flat, is still steep, and that doesn’t pair well with alcohol in the system or on the ground.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Its purpose is deceptively simple: take whatever data an agency already has, break it down into its smallest components and then connect the dots.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• ably 
• adroitly 
• artfully www.thesaurus.com
• carefully 
• cleverly www.thesaurus.com
• coolly www.thesaurus.com
• deftly 
• deliberately 
• intelligently www.thesaurus.com
• judiciously 
• keenly 
• knowingly www.thesaurus.com
• skillfully www.thesaurus.com
• slyly 
• smartly