deceptive
dih-SEP-tiv
/dɪˈsep.tɪv/
Giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading.
Can be intentional or unintentional, but usually implies a trap or a trick.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'decipere', meaning 'to ensnare' or 'to cheat'. It literally means 'to take away' someone's sense of reality by trapping them in a false belief.
Word relationships
- misleading: Misleading suggests being led in the wrong direction; deceptive suggests a more active trick.
- honest: Free of deceit; truthful.
Commonly confused with
- deceitful: Deceitful usually describes a person's character; deceptive describes an object or a statement.
Word family
- deception (noun): The act of deceiving someone.
- deceptively (adverb): In a way that gives a false impression.
Collocations
- deceptive practices
- highly deceptive
- deceptive appearance
Idioms & expressions
- appearances can be deceptive
Example sentences
- "The regulator banned the ad, calling the 'all-natural' claim deceptive and harmful to consumers." Marketing regulations.
- "Appearances can be deceptive; the small factory actually produced more waste than the larger one." Describing appearances.
Memory hook
A 'deceptive' person wants to 'de-cept' (intercept) your logic. Intercepting the truth.
When not to use
Avoid using for simple mistakes; it usually implies a quality of the object or statement itself that leads one astray.
Fun facts
- In nature, 'deceptive' coloration is used by animals like the orchid mantis to lure prey.
Related words
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