adj
duplicitous
dyuu-PLIH-sih-tuhs
Duplicitous (adj) means Deliberately dishonest, saying one thing while meaning or doing another. Example: “His duplicitous behaviour finally caught up with him when both stories fell apart.”
adj
1
Deliberately dishonest, saying one thing while meaning or doing another.
"His duplicitous behaviour finally caught up with him when both stories fell apart."
"She felt betrayed by his duplicitous promises."
How to use duplicitous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwo-faced and deceitful — saying one thing to one person and something contradictory to another.
Common pairings
duplicitous behaviour
duplicitous scheme
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more duplicitous
- Superlative
- most duplicitous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ behaviour finally caught up with him when both stories fell apart.
Etymology
Formed from "duplicity" plus the adjective ending "-ous."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for duplicitous
See all rhymes for duplicitous →Frequently asked questions
What does “duplicitous” mean?
The word “duplicitous” means deliberately dishonest, saying one thing while meaning or doing another. In plain terms, two-faced and deceitful — saying one thing to one person and something contradictory to another.
How do you pronounce “duplicitous”?
“Duplicitous” is pronounced dyuu-PLIH-sih-tuhs (/duːˈplɪsətəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “duplicitous” in a sentence?
Here is “duplicitous” used in a sentence: “His duplicitous behaviour finally caught up with him when both stories fell apart.”
What part of speech is “duplicitous”?
“Duplicitous” is an adjective.
