deceptions
Acts of trickery
Deceptions are acts of deceiving—misleading someone into believing something false.
The word covers everything from white lies to elaborate frauds: The investigation revealed a series of financial deceptions.
A deception can also be the false impression itself: The calm surface was a deception; underneath, the current was treacherous.
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
hoax · phishing · counterfeit · ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · grift · racket · identity theft
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilesDeceptive stratagems
- shrewdnessKeen practical judgment
deviousness · chicanery · scheming · wiliness · slickness · subterfuge · machination · stratagem
Deliberate untrue statement
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- untruthA false statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- prevaricationMisleading speech avoiding directness
misrepresentation · tall tale · perjury · dishonesty · equivocation · canard · half-truth · white lie
Atmospheric optical deception
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
optical illusion · delusion · chimera · smoke and mirrors · misdirection · prestidigitation · magic trick · card trick
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
unfaithfulness · sellout · duplicity · falseness · breach of trust · broken promise · two-faced · stab in the back
Deceptive act or costume party
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- impersonationPretending to be another
- coverProtect by overlaying
- aliasAdopted false name
pseudonym · incognito · costume · mask · facade · front · pretense · charade
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- exploitationSelfish use of others
indoctrination · psychological warfare · mind games · guilt-tripping · emotional blackmail · love bombing · fearmongering · disinformation campaign
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
forgery · hoax · phishing · counterfeit · ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · grift · racket · identity theft · shell game
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilesDeceptive stratagems
shrewdness · deviousness · chicanery · scheming · wiliness · slickness · subterfuge · machination · stratagem · conniving
falsehood
Deliberate untrue statement
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- untruthA false statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
prevarication · misrepresentation · tall tale · perjury · dishonesty · equivocation · canard · half-truth · white lie · whopper
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
- hallucinationPerception without external cause
sleight of hand · optical illusion · delusion · chimera · smoke and mirrors · misdirection · prestidigitation · magic trick · card trick · stage magic
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
disloyalty · unfaithfulness · sellout · duplicity · falseness · breach of trust · broken promise · two-faced · stab in the back · bad faith
masquerade
Deceptive act or costume party
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- impersonationPretending to be another
- coverProtect by overlaying
alias · pseudonym · incognito · costume · mask · facade · front · pretense · charade · wolf in sheep's clothing
gaslighting
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
exploitation · indoctrination · psychological warfare · mind games · guilt-tripping · emotional blackmail · love bombing · fearmongering · disinformation campaign · social engineering
deceptionstruths
Accurate statements about reality
honesties · verities · facts · accuracies · straight talk
deceptionshonesties
States of being truthful
integrities · virtues · ethical behavior · uprightness · rectitude
deceptionsdisclosures
Acts of revealing information
revelations · confessions · admissions · exposures · openness
- visual deceptionTrick of the eye
- deception tacticsDeliberate schemes to mislead
- criminal deceptionIllegal misleading for gain