Deceive
verb
To make someone believe something that is not true.
She deceived her parents into thinking she was going to school when she was really going to the mall.
Often appears as...
- deceive someone into
- deceive oneself
verb
To trick or mislead someone on purpose.
The con man deceived his victims by pretending to be a doctor.
Often appears as...
- intentionally deceive
- deceive with lies
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To make someone believe something that is not true.
She deceived her parents into thinking she was going to school when she was really going to the mall.
Often appears as...
- deceive someone into
- deceive oneself
verb
To trick or mislead someone on purpose.
The con man deceived his victims by pretending to be a doctor.
Often appears as...
- intentionally deceive
- deceive with lies
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
Deceive has a negative connotation and implies dishonesty. Consider social or cultural context before using.
Politicians may deceive the public during campaigns.
Pro Tip 2/3Self-Deception
'Deceive oneself' means to believe in one's own lies or illusions.
He deceived himself into thinking he didn't need help.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtlety
Deception doesn't always involve outright lies but can be through half-truths or omissions.
She deceived him by not mentioning her past.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
Deceive has a negative connotation and implies dishonesty. Consider social or cultural context before using.
Politicians may deceive the public during campaigns.
Pro Tip 2/3Self-Deception
'Deceive oneself' means to believe in one's own lies or illusions.
He deceived himself into thinking he didn't need help.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtlety
Deception doesn't always involve outright lies but can be through half-truths or omissions.
She deceived him by not mentioning her past.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Matters
Deceive has a negative connotation and implies dishonesty. Consider social or cultural context before using.
Politicians may deceive the public during campaigns.
Pro Tip 2/3Self-Deception
'Deceive oneself' means to believe in one's own lies or illusions.
He deceived himself into thinking he didn't need help.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtlety
Deception doesn't always involve outright lies but can be through half-truths or omissions.
She deceived him by not mentioning her past.
Compare with
bamboozlebeguilecheatconndefrauddeludedupefalsifyhoodwinkmisleadswindletrick
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Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
And this was Henry's rule, he said, "Look, everyone is willing to give you something. They're ready to give you something for whatever it is they're hungry for." And that's the crux of it. If you don't want to be deceived, you have to know, what is it that you're hungry for? And we all kind of hate to admit it.
Video examples
How do you know you...
to begin again from the foundations. All his knowledge had come from his sensory perceptions of the world. Same as you, right? You know you're watching this video with your eyes, hearing it with your ears. Your senses show you the world as it is. They aren't deceiving you, but sometimes they do.
Video examples
Wombats Poo Cubes! PIPE...
See what you think, do you want to hold that up for me? Hold that up, have a look at the shape of this poo it's very characteristic Very surprising what you might notice there is the definitive edges because that poo your eyes aren't deceiving you, that poo is cubed. It's cubed poo.
Video examples
Animals Cannot Be Blue PIPE...
only appear blue because of the physics of light scattering. They say you have to see something with your own eyes to believe it. But nature shows that your eyes are easily deceived. We may not know why blue is so rare, but now we have to wonder, if you can't trust your own eyes,
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
also a storyteller she weaves powerful narratives except instead of doing it to show the truth to actually help make the world a better place she does it to deceive people I mean think about how pernicious she what she's doing is instead of
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
But for Heather, or deceived partners, it is essential to do things that bring back a sense of self-worth, to surround oneself with love and with friends and activities that give back joy and meaning and identity. But even more important,
Video examples
The transformative power...
because the chord he's looking for is this one, and instead he does Now, we call that a deceptive cadence, because it deceives us. I tell my students, "If you have a deceptive cadence, raise your eyebrows, and everybody will know."
Video examples
The otherworldly...
animals bioluminesce to match the glow. Predators or prey looking up from below are deceived by this camoflauge, unable to see the creatures silhouette. Such otherworldly adaptations also arise from the need to locate
Video examples
Nathalie Cabrol: How...
Life is everywhere, absolutely everywhere. Everything you see in this picture is a living organism. Maybe not so the diver, but everything else. But this picture is very deceiving.
Video examples
Cuttlefish Mimics Being...
goliath is deceived the small male now displays a white stripe just like the real female to deter his advances
Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
And this was Henry's rule, he said, "Look, everyone is willing to give you something. They're ready to give you something for whatever it is they're hungry for." And that's the crux of it. If you don't want to be deceived, you have to know, what is it that you're hungry for? And we all kind of hate to admit it.
Video examples
How do you know you...
to begin again from the foundations. All his knowledge had come from his sensory perceptions of the world. Same as you, right? You know you're watching this video with your eyes, hearing it with your ears. Your senses show you the world as it is. They aren't deceiving you, but sometimes they do.
Video examples
Wombats Poo Cubes! PIPE...
See what you think, do you want to hold that up for me? Hold that up, have a look at the shape of this poo it's very characteristic Very surprising what you might notice there is the definitive edges because that poo your eyes aren't deceiving you, that poo is cubed. It's cubed poo.
Video examples
Animals Cannot Be Blue PIPE...
only appear blue because of the physics of light scattering. They say you have to see something with your own eyes to believe it. But nature shows that your eyes are easily deceived. We may not know why blue is so rare, but now we have to wonder, if you can't trust your own eyes,
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
also a storyteller she weaves powerful narratives except instead of doing it to show the truth to actually help make the world a better place she does it to deceive people I mean think about how pernicious she what she's doing is instead of
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
But for Heather, or deceived partners, it is essential to do things that bring back a sense of self-worth, to surround oneself with love and with friends and activities that give back joy and meaning and identity. But even more important,
Video examples
The transformative power...
because the chord he's looking for is this one, and instead he does Now, we call that a deceptive cadence, because it deceives us. I tell my students, "If you have a deceptive cadence, raise your eyebrows, and everybody will know."
Video examples
The otherworldly...
animals bioluminesce to match the glow. Predators or prey looking up from below are deceived by this camoflauge, unable to see the creatures silhouette. Such otherworldly adaptations also arise from the need to locate
Video examples
Nathalie Cabrol: How...
Life is everywhere, absolutely everywhere. Everything you see in this picture is a living organism. Maybe not so the diver, but everything else. But this picture is very deceiving.
Video examples
Cuttlefish Mimics Being...
goliath is deceived the small male now displays a white stripe just like the real female to deter his advances
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Saint Bernard
Saint
In truth, opinion may be taken for understanding; understanding cannot be taken for opinion. How so? Surely because opinion may be deceived; understanding cannot be. If it could, it would not be understanding but opinion. For true understanding has not only certain truth, but the knowledge of truth.
Quote examples
Victoria Moran
American Writer
I need a spiritual connection - I can make changes, but I can't make miracles - and I need people around me who'll support me and believe in me and tell me the truth and not let me deceive myself into avoiding the what's scary and hard and necessary.
Quote examples
Carl Jung
Swiss Psychologist
Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.
Quote examples
Janet Jackson
American Musician
In complete darkness we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.
Quote examples
Sophie Swetchine
Russian Author
We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
Quote examples
Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
Deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.
Quote examples
Taylor Caldwell
American Author
I have been constantly betrayed and deceived all my life.
Quote examples
Bryant H. McGill
American Author
Truth is often the favorite tool of those who deceive.
Quote examples
Sebastian Franck
German Activist
The world loves to be deceived.
Quote examples
Saint Bernard
Saint
In truth, opinion may be taken for understanding; understanding cannot be taken for opinion. How so? Surely because opinion may be deceived; understanding cannot be. If it could, it would not be understanding but opinion. For true understanding has not only certain truth, but the knowledge of truth.
Quote examples
Victoria Moran
American Writer
I need a spiritual connection - I can make changes, but I can't make miracles - and I need people around me who'll support me and believe in me and tell me the truth and not let me deceive myself into avoiding the what's scary and hard and necessary.
Quote examples
Carl Jung
Swiss Psychologist
Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.
Quote examples
Janet Jackson
American Musician
In complete darkness we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.
Quote examples
Sophie Swetchine
Russian Author
We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
Quote examples
Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
Deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.
Quote examples
Taylor Caldwell
American Author
I have been constantly betrayed and deceived all my life.
Quote examples
Bryant H. McGill
American Author
Truth is often the favorite tool of those who deceive.
Quote examples
Sebastian Franck
German Activist
The world loves to be deceived.
Example 1 of 10
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