Synonyms

deceptively

American

[dih-sep-tiv-lee] / dɪˈsɛp tɪv li /

adverb

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

nondeceptively adverb
undeceptively adverb

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 rejects claims by Harry, pop icon Elton John and his husband David Furnish, and four other well-known figures that it illegally intercepted voicemail messages, listened in on phone calls and deceptively obtained private information.

From Barron's

Yet some of those trails, most notably the Devil’s Backbone, can become deceptively difficult in the wintertime, transforming from moderate hikes into dangerous mountaineering routes that require specialized equipment and training.

From Los Angeles Times

His prescriptions run along deceptively simple lines: Care for your health.

From Los Angeles Times

Jayawardhana said Caltech’s achievements are rooted in its “deceptively simple formula: empowering brilliant minds to explore important questions with imagination and courage and making bold commitments to efforts others might consider too risky or far-fetched.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s deceptively simple: a curated list of meals you intend to make for dinner.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023