Janus-faced
Showing two faces
Janus-faced describes someone or something with two contrasting aspects, especially someone deceitful who presents different faces to different people.
The Roman god Janus had two faces looking in opposite directions—one forward, one back—making him the god of doorways and transitions.
The term usually carries negative connotations of duplicity: a Janus-faced politician who promises everything to everyone.
It can also neutrally describe genuine duality: the Janus-faced nature of technology, which both connects and isolates us.
Deliberately deceptive in nature
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
treacherous · false · untrustworthy · backstabbing · dissembling · disingenuous · perfidious · scheming
Of ancient Italy's capital
- doorwaysFramed openings for passage
- gatesMovable barriers at openings
- beginningsInitial stages of something
- endingsConcluding portions
transitions · temple · ancient · deity · two-headed · threshold · passage · divinity
Having contradictory feelings
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- paradoxicalSeemingly absurd yet true
- dichotomousDivided into two parts
- double-edgedHaving opposite effects
twofold · binary · bifurcated · opposing · antithetical · complementary · yin-yang · multifaceted
Point of beginning
crossroads · boundary · cusp · pivotal · watershed · in-between · neither-nor · bridging
duplicitous
Deliberately deceptive in nature
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- hypocriticalFeigning beliefs one lacks
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
insincere · treacherous · false · untrustworthy · backstabbing · dissembling · disingenuous · perfidious · scheming · underhanded
Roman
Of ancient Italy's capital
- doorwaysFramed openings for passage
- gatesMovable barriers at openings
- beginningsInitial stages of something
endings · transitions · temple · ancient · deity · two-headed · threshold · passage · divinity · antiquity
ambivalent
Having contradictory feelings
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- paradoxicalSeemingly absurd yet true
- dichotomousDivided into two parts
double-edged · twofold · binary · bifurcated · opposing · antithetical · complementary · yin-yang · multifaceted · polarized
threshold
Point of beginning
doorway · crossroads · boundary · cusp · pivotal · watershed · in-between · neither-nor · bridging · border
Janus-facedsincere
Genuinely felt, not feigned
genuine · honest · straightforward · candid · forthright
Janus-facedconsistent
Not varying or contradicting
steadfast · unwavering · reliable · true · dependable
face, surface, faced, janitor, two-faced, facial, January, Janus