Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
😈 Deceitful or fake ⚖️ Having two sides
Janus-faced

Janus-faced

9.9
To pretend to feel one thing while acting the opposite
  • adjective
  • /ˈdʒeɪnəs feɪst/
  • Offensive
translation icon : hipócrita
  • The politician was criticized for being Janus-faced in his public and private statements.

Examples

  • Her Janus-faced approach to friendship left many unsure of where they stood with her.

  • Her Janus-faced behavior made it hard to trust her.

  • The company’s Janus-faced policies seemed to support both environmental initiatives and increased industrial output.

  • Don't be so Janus-faced about your intentions!

  • The politician was criticized for being Janus-faced in his public and private statements.

  • Her Janus-faced approach to friendship left many unsure of where they stood with her.

  • The company’s Janus-faced policies seemed to support both environmental initiatives and increased industrial output.

Synonyms

deceitful
vsJanus-faced
31 5.0

Acting in a dishonest way to make people believe something untrue

focuses on pretending feelings while acting differently rather than general dishonesty
two-faced
vsJanus-faced
  • Offensive
22 6.7

A person who acts friendly to your face while saying bad things behind your back

is the same idea but often used as an informal phrase
duplicitous
vsJanus-faced
15 8.9

Pretending to feel one way while acting another way

is the same meaning but uses a different single word form
double-faced
vsJanus-faced
  • Offensive
8.4

Appearing friendly while secretly acting in a dishonest way

is the same sense but varies only as a different word form
double-tongued
vsJanus-faced
9.4

Showing one feeling while acting differently to trick people

is similar but emphasizes speech or double statements rather than general conduct

Antonyms

sincere
239 2.5

Being honest and showing what you really feel

How Deceitful

two-faced
  • Offensive
22 6.7
Janus-faced
  • Offensive
9.9
hypocritical
83 6.1
insincere
19 4.2

Surface Forms

Janus-faced positive

Morphology

Janus-faced = Janus + face (semi-transparent) = Janus + face + ed

The structure Janus + -faced transparently signals 'having the two-faced quality of Janus', but understanding requires cultural/mythological knowledge of Janus and the combining use of '-faced'.

Etymology

Janus-faced comes from the Roman god Janus, who has 'two faces' looking in opposite directions and even gave his name to January. So, to be Janus-faced is like showing one face to people and hiding another, meaning you are deceitful or two-faced.