deceivingly
In deceptive manner
Deceivingly means in a manner that deceives or misleads.
The word is rare and often confused with deceptively, which is far more common.
Where deceptively describes something that creates a false impression (deceptively simple), deceivingly would describe the manner of an action intended to deceive: He smiled deceivingly.
Most writers choose deceptively instead.
Deliberately minimized in expression
- nuancedHaving fine distinctions
- imperceptiblyBelow detection threshold
- faintlyIn a weak manner
- slightlyTo a minor extent
quietly · softly · gently · delicately · inconspicuously · unobtrusively · discreetly · covertly
At surface level only
- outwardlyTo external appearance
- seeminglyAppearing to be so
- apparentlyAs far as shown
- ostensiblyAppearing true but questionable
externally · visibly · facially · cosmetically · skin-deep · perceptibly · observably · noticeably
Based on false appearance
- illusoryFalsely appearing to exist
- delusoryCreating false impressions
- fallaciousContaining faulty reasoning
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
beguiling · misrepresentative · disingenuous · spurious · ostensible · seeming · apparent · feigned
Without prior indication
- astonishinglyIn a stunning manner
- remarkablyTo an unusual degree
- strikinglyIn attention-grabbing manner
- startlinglyIn surprising manner
shockingly · disarmingly · counterintuitively · paradoxically · improbably · incongruously · puzzlingly · confoundingly
understated
Deliberately minimized in expression
- nuancedHaving fine distinctions
- imperceptiblyBelow detection threshold
- faintlyIn a weak manner
slightly · quietly · softly · gently · delicately · inconspicuously · unobtrusively · discreetly · covertly · indirectly
superficially
At surface level only
- outwardlyTo external appearance
- seeminglyAppearing to be so
- apparentlyAs far as shown
ostensibly · externally · visibly · facially · cosmetically · skin-deep · perceptibly · observably · noticeably · plainly
illusive
Based on false appearance
- illusoryFalsely appearing to exist
- delusoryCreating false impressions
- fallaciousContaining faulty reasoning
specious · beguiling · misrepresentative · disingenuous · spurious · ostensible · seeming · apparent · feigned · pseudo
unexpectedly
Without prior indication
- astonishinglyIn a stunning manner
- remarkablyTo an unusual degree
- strikinglyIn attention-grabbing manner
startlingly · shockingly · disarmingly · counterintuitively · paradoxically · improbably · incongruously · puzzlingly · confoundingly · bafflingly
deceivinglytransparently
In an obvious manner
obviously · clearly · apparently · evidently · manifestly
deceivinglyhonestly
In a truthful manner
truthfully · transparently · genuinely · sincerely · candidly