deceive
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for deceive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To trick or mislead someone into believing something false.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
undeceive
How to use deceive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
deceive someone
deceive the public
be deceived by appearances
Etymology
From Latin decipere, "to catch, ensnare, cheat" — from de- + capere, "to seize" (the same root gives us "capture" and "captive").
Full origin of deceive →Frequently asked questions
What does “deceive” mean?
The word “deceive” means to trick or mislead someone into believing something false. In plain terms, to make someone believe something untrue, usually on purpose.
How do you pronounce “deceive”?
“Deceive” is pronounced dih-SEEV (/dɪˈsiːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “deceive” in a sentence?
Here is “deceive” used in a sentence: “He deceived investors by hiding the company's true losses.”
What part of speech is “deceive”?
“Deceive” is a verb.
Where does the word “deceive” come from?
The word “deceive” comes from Latin. From Latin decipere, "to catch, ensnare, cheat" — from de- + capere, "to seize" (the same root gives us "capture" and "captive").
Is “deceive” a common word?
“Deceive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
