hoodwink
Pull one over
To hoodwink is to deceive or trick someone, usually by concealing the truth or creating a false impression: They hoodwinked investors with fake financial statements.
The word suggests cunning manipulation rather than outright lying—leading someone to a wrong conclusion while technically avoiding falsehood.
Don't be hoodwinked by the sales pitch.
Deceive through cunning
- dupeDeceive or victim
- beguileCharm into deception
- misleadCause false belief
- deludeLead into false belief
con · fool · gull · swindle · outwit · defraud · trick · cozen
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- wileDeceptive trick or scheme
machination · artifice · stratagem · gambit · feint · dodge · maneuver · sleight
Dishonest money-making scheme
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
quack · mountebank · faker · phony · grifter · flimflam artist · confidence game · bunco
Deceptive outward show
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- façadeFalse outward appearance
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- dissimulationConcealing true feelings
feigned · put-on · front · false front · smokescreen · cover story · red herring · misdirection
Treacherous deception of partner
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- backstabBetray someone's trust
- sell outBetray one's values
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
duplicity · perfidy · double-dealing · Judas · turncoat · snake in the grass · stab in the back · false friend
bamboozle
Deceive through cunning
delude · con · fool · gull · swindle · outwit · defraud · trick · cozen · snooker
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
wile · machination · artifice · stratagem · gambit · feint · dodge · maneuver · sleight · legerdemain
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
impostor · quack · mountebank · faker · phony · grifter · flimflam artist · confidence game · bunco · racket
pretense
Deceptive outward show
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- façadeFalse outward appearance
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
dissimulation · feigned · put-on · front · false front · smokescreen · cover story · red herring · misdirection · distraction
double-cross
Treacherous deception of partner
two-faced · duplicity · perfidy · double-dealing · Judas · turncoat · snake in the grass · stab in the back · false friend
hoodwinkundeceive
Correct a false belief
tell the truth · level with · inform · enlighten · clue in
hoodwinkenlighten
Impart knowledge or wisdom
disenchant · open someone's eyes · disillusion · educate · wise up