deceive
verb (used with object)
to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude.
have been deceiving
-
present perfect progressiveof deceive.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
"These people have been deceiving everyone for 67 years!"
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
To be found liable under Florida’s consumer protection law, Moskowitz will have to offer evidence that the celebrities knew FTX may have been deceiving investors, said Florida attorney Daniel Lustig, which is tough to prove.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 14, 2022
With a 3.88 ERA last season, the M’s had the fourth-best bullpen in the American League, but that ERA might have been deceiving.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2022
Mr. Roof repeatedly insisted that he did not have a mental illness, and he suggested that his court-appointed lawyers would have been deceiving jurors if they had mounted such a defense.
From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2017
"Can he have been deceiving her?" he asked himself more than once.
From The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III) A Tale by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
