deceives
Leads others astray
Deceives is the third-person singular of deceive, meaning to cause someone to believe something false.
A con artist deceives marks into handing over money.
Appearances deceive when they mislead: The calm surface deceives—the current underneath is deadly.
To deceive oneself is to avoid facing uncomfortable truths.
Causes false belief
- dupesDeceives or victims
- hoodwinksDeceives through trickery
- bamboozlesDeceives or tricks
- beguilesDeceives by charming
deludes · misinforms · misguides · leads astray · gaslights · exploits · strings along · plays
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- wileDeceptive trick or scheme
artifice · chicanery · sleight · guile · maneuver · dodge · gambit · feint
Dishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
flimflam · racket · con · sting · shell game · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · phishing
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
infidelity · unfaithfulness · treason · sellout · defection · breach of trust · Judas · turncoat
Atmospheric optical deception
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
figment · apparition · fantasy · trompe l'oeil · optical illusion · false impression · facade · veneer
Deliberate untruths
- untruthsAssertions contrary to fact
- fabricationsInvented untrue statements
- fibsPetty falsehoods
- whoppersOutlandish untruths
prevarications · distortions · misrepresentations · perjury · disinformation · misinformation · exaggerations · canards
misleads
Causes false belief
- dupesDeceives or victims
- hoodwinksDeceives through trickery
- bamboozlesDeceives or tricks
beguiles · deludes · misinforms · misguides · leads astray · gaslights · exploits · strings along · plays · fools
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
wile · artifice · chicanery · sleight · guile · maneuver · dodge · gambit · feint · bluff
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
hustle · flimflam · racket · con · sting · shell game · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · phishing · catfishing
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
disloyalty · infidelity · unfaithfulness · treason · sellout · defection · breach of trust · Judas · turncoat · two-timing
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
chimera · figment · apparition · fantasy · trompe l'oeil · optical illusion · false impression · facade · veneer · smokescreen
falsehoods
Deliberate untruths
- untruthsAssertions contrary to fact
- fabricationsInvented untrue statements
- fibsPetty falsehoods
whoppers · prevarications · distortions · misrepresentations · perjury · disinformation · misinformation · exaggerations · canards · tall tales
deceive, deceived, deceiving, deceiver, deceivers, deceivable, undeceiving