duplicitous
Speaking with forked-tongue
Duplicitous describes someone who deceives by pretending to have one set of intentions while actually pursuing another—saying one thing while meaning or doing something else.
The word implies deliberate two-facedness rather than simple dishonesty: a duplicitous ally who fed information to both sides, His duplicitous nature eventually caught up with him.
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- conspiratorialSuggesting secret plotting
cunning · crafty · devious · sly · wily · shrewd · artful · machinating
Inclined to mislead others
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
- untruthfulNot speaking facts
- dishonestInclined to deceive
insincere · fraudulent · disingenuous · lying · phony · bogus · counterfeit · feigned
Feigning beliefs one lacks
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- Janus-facedHaving contradictory aspects
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
pretentious · backstabbing · untrustworthy · feigned · mealy-mouthed · sanctimonious · forked-tongue · facade
Deliberate violation of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
double-cross · treason · unfaithfulness · perfidious · disloyal · faithless · seditious · mutinous
Clever deceptive strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
slyness · craftiness · chicanery · manipulation · wiliness · stratagem · intrigue · misdirection
plotting
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
conspiratorial · cunning · crafty · devious · sly · wily · shrewd · artful · machinating · intriguing
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
- untruthfulNot speaking facts
dishonest · insincere · fraudulent · disingenuous · lying · phony · bogus · counterfeit · feigned · pretended
hypocritical
Feigning beliefs one lacks
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- Janus-facedHaving contradictory aspects
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
phony · pretentious · backstabbing · untrustworthy · feigned · mealy-mouthed · sanctimonious · forked-tongue · facade · pretense
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
disloyalty · double-cross · treason · unfaithfulness · perfidious · disloyal · faithless · seditious · mutinous · treasonous
artifice
Clever deceptive strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
deceit · slyness · craftiness · chicanery · manipulation · wiliness · stratagem · intrigue · misdirection · ruse
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- betrayerstraitor, betrayer, backstabber, turncoat, double-crosser
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- fakefake, phony, bogus, sham, counterfeit
- wickedevil, wicked, villainous, malicious, sinister
duplicitoushonest
Free from deception
truthful · straightforward · sincere · forthright · candid
duplicitoushonorable
Having high moral standards
upright · principled · ethical · trustworthy · scrupulous