deception
Deliberate misleading act
Deception is the act of making someone believe something false.
It covers lies, tricks, misdirection, and concealment—anything that leads another person away from the truth.
A magician's deception entertains; a con artist's deception defrauds.
The deception was so complete that no one suspected him for years.
Self-deception is the trick of fooling yourself.
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- feintDeceptive mock attack
stratagem · dodge · artifice · chicanery · bluff · misdirection · decoy · red herring
Deliberate untrue statement
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- mendacityDisposition to lie
prevarication · perjury · dishonesty · deceit · white lie · whopper · tall tale · pathological liar
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
counterfeit · phishing · charlatan · impostor · grift · embezzlement · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabBetray someone's trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
turncoat · Judas · defection · sellout · two-faced · stab in the back · false friend · snake
Concealment through visual blending
- maskFace-worn concealment
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- impersonationPretending to be another
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
pretense · charade · front · veneer · mimicry · concealment · incognito · alias
False data spread unintentionally
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
- dupeDeceive or victim
obfuscate · distort · mislead · misguide · misdirect · beguile · delude · lead astray
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
puppeteering · mind games · grooming · love bombing · guilt-tripping · spin · propaganda · psychological warfare
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
feint · stratagem · dodge · artifice · chicanery · bluff · misdirection · decoy · red herring · smoke and mirrors
falsehood
Deliberate untrue statement
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
mendacity · prevarication · perjury · dishonesty · deceit · white lie · whopper · tall tale · pathological liar · dissembling
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
forgery · counterfeit · phishing · charlatan · impostor · grift · embezzlement · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · flimflam
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabBetray someone's trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
perfidy · turncoat · Judas · defection · sellout · two-faced · stab in the back · false friend · snake · duplicity
camouflage
Concealment through visual blending
- maskFace-worn concealment
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- impersonationPretending to be another
masquerade · pretense · charade · front · veneer · mimicry · concealment · incognito · alias · wolf in sheep's clothing
misinformation
False data spread unintentionally
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
dupe · obfuscate · distort · mislead · misguide · misdirect · beguile · delude · lead astray · fool
gaslighting
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
indoctrination · puppeteering · mind games · grooming · love bombing · guilt-tripping · spin · propaganda · psychological warfare · guilt trip
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, scam
- dishonestydishonesty, deceit, duplicity, lying, mendacity
- Mistakes & Liesmistakes, lies, errors, error, mistake
- Relationship Dynamicstrust, loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, support
- strategiesambush, flanking, feint, diversion, counterattack
- strategy tacticsplanning, scheming, positioning, timing, bluffing
deceptiontruth
Accordance with reality
honesty · truthfulness · veracity · accuracy · sincerity
deceptionhonor
High regard, moral dignity
integrity · uprightness · probity · righteousness · virtuousness
deceptioncandor
Unguarded truthfulness
frankness · openness · transparency · forthrightness · directness
- deceptive practicesDishonest methods to mislead
- deceptive advertisingDishonest product claims
- deceptive pricingDishonest cost presentation
- deceptive marketingPromotional dishonesty toward buyers
- deceptive adsMarketing that misleads buyers
- deceptive appearanceMisleading outward presentation
deceptive, deceptively, deceptions, deceptiveness, self-deception