deceitful

[ dih-seet-fuhl ]

adjective

1. given to deceiving:

   A deceitful person cannot keep friends for long.

   Synonyms: wily, tricky, designing, hollow, false, disingenuous, insincere

   Antonyms: honest

2. intended to deceive; misleading; fraudulent:

   a deceitful action.

   Synonyms: fallacious, illusory

   Antonyms: genuine

deceitful

/ dɪˈsiːtfʊl /

adjective

1. full of deceit

Derived Forms

• deˈceitfully, adverb
• deˈceitfulness, noun

Other Words From

• de·ceitful·ly adverb
• de·ceitful·ness noun
• unde·ceitful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deceitful¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; deceit + -ful

Example Sentences

Harris faced a much tamer version of what Trump will do in her 2020 vice presidential debate with Mike Pence and her earlier, now-famous refusal to countenance deceitful interruption remains an effective strategy to push back against the firehose of falsehoods that the disgraced ex-president is sure to open up.

From Salon

Were you concerned that Hawk, who’s an often selfish and deceitful character, would be seen as too unsympathetic?

From Los Angeles Times

The deceitful tactics Republicans used against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 aren’t likely to work for Donald Trump in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times

But it’s another when the underlying premises beneath those promises is wildly deceitful.

From Salon

But when one of the two political parties’ entire argument is so obviously deceitful, from start to finish, it’s not right for journalists to treat them alike.

From Salon

Related Words

• artful
• deceptive
• disingenuous
• duplicitous
• false
• fraudulent
• hypocritical
• misleading
• underhanded
• untrustworthy
• untruthful