deceive Hear it!

deceive Definition

de·ceive (dē sēv′, di-)

transitive verb deceived -·ceived′, deceiving -·ceiv′·ing

  1. to make (a person) believe what is not true; delude; mislead
  2. Archaic to be false to; betray
  3. Archaic to while away (time)

Etymology: ME deceiven < OFr deceveir < L decipere, to ensnare, deceive < de-, from + capere, to take: see have

intransitive verb

to use deceit; lie

Related Forms:

deceive Synonyms

deceive

v.

mislead, delude, swindle, trick, cheat, outwit, fool, rob, defraud, practice deceit, not play fair, victimize, hoax, betray, beguile, take advantage of, impose upon, entrap, ensnare, hoodwink, play one false, gull, cozen, dupe, lead astray, bamboozle, fleece, beguile out of, humbug, circumvent, get around, lie to, falsify accounts, pass off, con*, put on*, scam*, take for*, get around*, finagle*, palm off*, cross up*, buffalo*, nick*, bilk*, gouge*, clip*, skin*, beat*, fake*, gyp*, beat out of*, put on*, burn*, chisel*, sell out*, double-cross*, hook*, pull a fast one*, pull something*, fake out*, play for a sucker*, shake down*, make a sucker out of*, snooker*, hustle*, take to the cleaners*, pull a quickie*, sell a gold brick to*, screw out of*, drive to the wall*, do out of*, string along*, take for a ride*, snow*, put one over on*, take in*, sail under false colors*, take in*, rope in*, lead on*, jive*, fast-talk*, sell*, pull the wool over one's eyes*, flimflam*, murphy*, give someone the run-around*, dress up*, trip up*, bleed white*, beguile out of*, do in*, pack the deal*, do up brown*, hit below the belt*, come over*, lead astray*, higgle the market*, get around*, euchre out of*, butter up*, let in*, play upon*, make a monkey of*; see also cheat, lie 1.

deceive implies the often deliberate misrepresentation of facts by words, actions, etc., frequently to further one's ends deceived into buying fraudulent stocks; to mislead is to cause to follow the wrong course or to err in conduct or action, although not always by deliberate deception misled by the sign into going to the wrong floor; beguile implies the use of wiles and enticing prospects in deceiving or misleading beguiled by promises of a fortune; to delude is to fool someone so completely that what is false is accepted as being true; betray implies a breaking of faith while appearing to be loyal

deceive Usage Examples

Object

  • yourselves: We are sinners by nature, John says, don't deceive yourselves.
  • recipient: If e-mailers were forced to reveal their true identity it would be much harder for them to deceive the innocent recipient.

Modifying Another Word

  • easily: Beside, I knew you could easily deceive him.
deceive Quotes

Music was invented to deceive and delude mankind.

—Ephorus of Cum×

Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!

—Scott, Sir Walter

   C'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur. It's doubly sweet to deceive the deceiver.

—La Fontaine,Jean de