Deceptive
adjective
Something or someone is not what they appear to be; misleading or dishonest.
His calm demeanour was deceptive, he was actually very angry.
Often appears as...
- deceptive practices
- deceptive advertisement
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Something or someone is not what they appear to be; misleading or dishonest.
His calm demeanour was deceptive, he was actually very angry.
Often appears as...
- deceptive practices
- deceptive advertisement
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Danger
Use 'deceptive' when something appears safe or good but has hidden risks or negative aspects.
The smooth road surface was deceptive; it turned icy in the shade.
Pro Tip 2/3Appearances Mislead
'Deceptive' is used when appearances might lead someone to the wrong conclusion.
The magician's skills are highly deceptive to the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Though often used negatively, 'deceptive' can describe something innocuously misleading, not intended to harm.
The painting’s perspective is deceptive, making the room seem larger.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Danger
Use 'deceptive' when something appears safe or good but has hidden risks or negative aspects.
The smooth road surface was deceptive; it turned icy in the shade.
Pro Tip 2/3Appearances Mislead
'Deceptive' is used when appearances might lead someone to the wrong conclusion.
The magician's skills are highly deceptive to the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Though often used negatively, 'deceptive' can describe something innocuously misleading, not intended to harm.
The painting’s perspective is deceptive, making the room seem larger.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Danger
Use 'deceptive' when something appears safe or good but has hidden risks or negative aspects.
The smooth road surface was deceptive; it turned icy in the shade.
Pro Tip 2/3Appearances Mislead
'Deceptive' is used when appearances might lead someone to the wrong conclusion.
The magician's skills are highly deceptive to the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Though often used negatively, 'deceptive' can describe something innocuously misleading, not intended to harm.
The painting’s perspective is deceptive, making the room seem larger.
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Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
is they come in and in very subtle ways over the course of several hours, they will ask that person to tell that story backwards, and then they'll watch them squirm, and track which questions produce the highest volume of deceptive tells. Why do they do that? Well, we all do the same thing. We rehearse our words, but we rarely rehearse our gestures.
Video examples
The language of lying —...
A technology known as linguistic text analysis has helped to identify four such common patterns in the subconscious language of deception. First, liars reference themselves less, when making deceptive statements. They write or talk more about others, often using the third person to distance and disassociate themselves from their lie,
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
to go to university was a bright day brimming with hope and optimism. I'd done well at school. Expectations for me were high, and I gleefully entered the student life of lectures, parties and traffic cone theft. Now appearances, of course, can be deceptive, and to an extent, this feisty, energetic persona
Video examples
Can a Horse Really Be...
character or find ways of picking horses with the right character for particular jobs a little test we did today were just to show you some of the ways you might look at and measuring how a horse reacts to new and instinctively scary things the test looks deceptively simple
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
makes it easy to get away with not thinking too deeply or questioning your assumptions. So the next time you hear someone use the word Orwellian, pay close attention. If they're talking about the deceptive and manipulative use of language, they're on the right track.
Video examples
The case against "good"...
These two deceptively tiny words stifle real description and honest communication. Look at them, just sitting there on this page, all smug and satisfied with their work. How dare they? You serve no purpose in our world, and we must rid ourselves of your influence.
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
Heroin Addicts Speak PIPE...
I used to be a hooker on the streets for a year two years something like that you know just to support my habit a heroin habit can be deceptive and usually starts slowly if you snorting blows if
Video examples
Wolves vs. Grizzly Bears...
team observed two elk calves killed by wolves two killed by grizzly bears the calves our fleet and agile even at this young age but the deceptively lumbering grizzly can reach a top speed of 30
Video examples
Learning a new language...
choice at all but as I said Portuguese is deceptive it's very deceptive amongst Portuguese speakers the greatest amusement is caused by my pronunciation of the
Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
is they come in and in very subtle ways over the course of several hours, they will ask that person to tell that story backwards, and then they'll watch them squirm, and track which questions produce the highest volume of deceptive tells. Why do they do that? Well, we all do the same thing. We rehearse our words, but we rarely rehearse our gestures.
Video examples
The language of lying —...
A technology known as linguistic text analysis has helped to identify four such common patterns in the subconscious language of deception. First, liars reference themselves less, when making deceptive statements. They write or talk more about others, often using the third person to distance and disassociate themselves from their lie,
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
to go to university was a bright day brimming with hope and optimism. I'd done well at school. Expectations for me were high, and I gleefully entered the student life of lectures, parties and traffic cone theft. Now appearances, of course, can be deceptive, and to an extent, this feisty, energetic persona
Video examples
Can a Horse Really Be...
character or find ways of picking horses with the right character for particular jobs a little test we did today were just to show you some of the ways you might look at and measuring how a horse reacts to new and instinctively scary things the test looks deceptively simple
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
makes it easy to get away with not thinking too deeply or questioning your assumptions. So the next time you hear someone use the word Orwellian, pay close attention. If they're talking about the deceptive and manipulative use of language, they're on the right track.
Video examples
The case against "good"...
These two deceptively tiny words stifle real description and honest communication. Look at them, just sitting there on this page, all smug and satisfied with their work. How dare they? You serve no purpose in our world, and we must rid ourselves of your influence.
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
Heroin Addicts Speak PIPE...
I used to be a hooker on the streets for a year two years something like that you know just to support my habit a heroin habit can be deceptive and usually starts slowly if you snorting blows if
Video examples
Wolves vs. Grizzly Bears...
team observed two elk calves killed by wolves two killed by grizzly bears the calves our fleet and agile even at this young age but the deceptively lumbering grizzly can reach a top speed of 30
Video examples
Learning a new language...
choice at all but as I said Portuguese is deceptive it's very deceptive amongst Portuguese speakers the greatest amusement is caused by my pronunciation of the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Edmund Phelps
American Economist
Most of the big banks were shot through with short-termism, deceptive practices and self-dealing. We must institute basic changes in corporate governance and in management practice to restore responsibility and honesty for the sake of the economy and for the self-respect of the country.
Quote examples
Terry Eagleton
English Critic
If history, philosophy and so on vanish from academic life, what they leave in their wake may be a technical training facility or corporate research institute. But it will not be a university in the classical sense of the term, and it would be deceptive to call it one.
Quote examples
Eric Carle
American Author
They are deceptively simple. I admit that. But for me, all my life I try to simplify things. As a child in school, things were very hard for me to understand often, and I developed a knack, I think. I developed a process to simplify things so I would understand them.
Quote examples
David D. Burns
Writer
Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all individuals suffering from depression can improve and experience a sense of joy and self-esteem once again.
Quote examples
Ron Livingston
American Actor
People who are deceptive themselves have a really good ear for deception. They know when somebody's telling the truth or not, and so one of the ways around that is to always be telling the truth - or some version of it.
Quote examples
Robert H. Schuller
American Clergyman
Negative thinking is subtle and deceptive. It wears many faces and hides behind the mask of excuses. It is important to strip away the mask and discover the real, root emotion.
Quote examples
Chelsea Clinton
American Celebrity
Service is a deceptively profound way to prove not only what you can do for the world, but what you can tell the world to expect from you and your ambitions.
Quote examples
Bryant H. McGill
American Author
The deceptive, glossy media images of faces, bodies and social lifestyles, make us hate ourselves so we will buy a solution to love ourselves once again.
Quote examples
John O'Toole
Canadian Politician
Political commercials encourage the deceptive, the destructive and the degrading.
Quote examples
Said Nursi
Turkish Theologian
The truth cannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived.
Quote examples
Edmund Phelps
American Economist
Most of the big banks were shot through with short-termism, deceptive practices and self-dealing. We must institute basic changes in corporate governance and in management practice to restore responsibility and honesty for the sake of the economy and for the self-respect of the country.
Quote examples
Terry Eagleton
English Critic
If history, philosophy and so on vanish from academic life, what they leave in their wake may be a technical training facility or corporate research institute. But it will not be a university in the classical sense of the term, and it would be deceptive to call it one.
Quote examples
Eric Carle
American Author
They are deceptively simple. I admit that. But for me, all my life I try to simplify things. As a child in school, things were very hard for me to understand often, and I developed a knack, I think. I developed a process to simplify things so I would understand them.
Quote examples
David D. Burns
Writer
Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all individuals suffering from depression can improve and experience a sense of joy and self-esteem once again.
Quote examples
Ron Livingston
American Actor
People who are deceptive themselves have a really good ear for deception. They know when somebody's telling the truth or not, and so one of the ways around that is to always be telling the truth - or some version of it.
Quote examples
Robert H. Schuller
American Clergyman
Negative thinking is subtle and deceptive. It wears many faces and hides behind the mask of excuses. It is important to strip away the mask and discover the real, root emotion.
Quote examples
Chelsea Clinton
American Celebrity
Service is a deceptively profound way to prove not only what you can do for the world, but what you can tell the world to expect from you and your ambitions.
Quote examples
Bryant H. McGill
American Author
The deceptive, glossy media images of faces, bodies and social lifestyles, make us hate ourselves so we will buy a solution to love ourselves once again.
Quote examples
John O'Toole
Canadian Politician
Political commercials encourage the deceptive, the destructive and the degrading.
Quote examples
Said Nursi
Turkish Theologian
The truth cannot be deceptive, and one who sees it cannot be deceived.
Example 1 of 10
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