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.
Scheffler's score was deceptively good on a day when gusting winds reached 40mph and ensured that the greens became firmer and even more perilous.
From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026
More importantly, he had to answer a deceptively difficult question: Why would anyone follow Lestat in the first place?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 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
They are, in their way, trying to answer a deceptively simple question.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
Doc is rather small, deceptively small, for he is wiry and very strong and when passionate anger comes on him he can be very fierce.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
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.
