deceptiveness

1 7.2

A quality that makes something seem true when it is false

noun
/dɪˈsɛptɪvnəs/

: engañosidad

Her talent for persuasion revealed the deceptiveness that lay behind her words.

Examples

Their sheer ignorance of meteorology or just plain deceptiveness is disturbing.

Blog text (28)
People often underestimate the deceptiveness of social media, which can create unrealistic expectations.
You and I of the occult dedication... know only too well the deceptiveness... of what appears to be.

The Raven (1963)
She wished that he knew about her so that she would be freed of the deceptiveness.

Fiction book (1992)
I would speculate that the three main worries about deceptiveness and pickup are that (a) PUAs will lie about their relationship.

Blog text (2)
Hearers who learn of speaker fallibility or deceptiveness will be on the alert, and they may thenceforth decline to accept statements from questionable sources.

Academic text (2001)
The deceptiveness of his charming smile made it hard to trust his intentions.

Synonyms

deception

vsdeceptiveness

163 3.9

An action that makes someone believe something not true

is the quality behind such acts rather than the acts themselves

charade

vsdeceptiveness

76 7.4

A false show that hides what is really happening

is the general tendency to give false impressions, not just staged shows

deceit

vsdeceptiveness

66 4.6

Dishonest action meant to trick someone

is the general tendency that leads to such fooling acts

pretense

vsdeceptiveness

65 6.1

A false claim or action to hide the truth

is the overall tendency to give false impressions beyond single acts

dishonesty

vsdeceptiveness

46 3.2

Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing

is the narrower tendency to give false impressions rather than all such acts

trickery

vsdeceptiveness

27 4.9

To use dishonest ways to cheat people

is the overall quality that can include but is not limited to such methods

fakery

vsdeceptiveness

6 6.8

A thing or action made to trick people into thinking it is real

is the general tendency to give false impressions beyond manufactured objects

insincerity

vsdeceptiveness

4 5.6

Not showing true feelings when you speak or act

is the overall tendency to give false impressions, not only false feelings

phoniness

vsdeceptiveness

Informal

4 7.2

The quality of seeming false and not sincere

is the broader tendency to give false impressions beyond surface manner

disingenuousness

vsdeceptiveness

3 8.8

A way of hiding the truth by pretending to be less involved

is the broader quality of giving false impressions beyond feigned ignorance

dissembling

vsdeceptiveness

3 9.9

Hiding your true feelings or intentions by pretending

is the general tendency to give false impressions beyond hidden motives

deceitfulness

vsdeceptiveness

2 6.5

Trying to make other people believe something that is not true

is the general quality of giving false impressions rather than acts

sneakiness

vsdeceptiveness

1 6.0

Doing things quietly to trick people without them noticing

is the broader quality of giving false impressions, not only secret acts

fraudulence

vsdeceptiveness

1 8.7

Dishonest behaviour that aims to get money or other unfair personal gain

is the broader quality of giving false impressions beyond criminal schemes

imposture

vsdeceptiveness

Archaic

1 9.5

To pretend to be someone else to trick people

is the general tendency to give false impressions, not only false identity schemes

speciousness

vsdeceptiveness

Formal

1 9.4

The appearance of being true when it is false

is the broader tendency to give false impressions rather than mere plausibility

humbuggery

vsdeceptiveness

Archaic

1 9.7

Dishonest words or actions that try to trick people

is the broader tendency to give false impressions, not only these schemes

double-dealing

vsdeceptiveness

1 7.1

Dishonest behavior of pretending one thing but doing another

is the general tendency to give false impressions rather than only hidden double acts

crookedness

vsdeceptiveness

1 6.9

Dishonest behavior by a person or group

is the general tendency to give false impressions, not only corrupt acts

misleadingness

vsdeceptiveness

9.0

The quality of making people believe something that is not true

is the same general quality of giving false impressions

falsifying

vsdeceptiveness

7.6

To make false information, for example in documents or results, to trick people

is the broader quality of giving false impressions beyond altered records

jiggery-pokery

vsdeceptiveness

Archaic

9.9

Dishonest actions that try to trick people

is the general tendency to give false impressions beyond such manipulations

suckering

vsdeceptiveness

Informal

8.3

Cheating people to get their money or an advantage

is the wider tendency to give false impressions, not only scams

doubleness

vsdeceptiveness

8.4

Act of showing a friendly face while hiding true feelings

is the general tendency to give false impressions, not only dual presentation

shiftiness

vsdeceptiveness

8.1

A person's secretive way of acting that makes others not trust them

is the general tendency to give false impressions rather than merely odd conduct

obliquity

vsdeceptiveness

Formal

9.9

Behavior that hides the truth to mislead people

is the broader tendency to give false impressions rather than moral error alone

charlatanry

vsdeceptiveness

Formal

9.9

Dishonest behavior where someone pretends to have skills or knowledge they do not have

is the broader tendency to give false impressions beyond false expertise

illusiveness

vsdeceptiveness

8.6

Hard to find or understand because it seems not real

is the broader tendency to create false impressions, not only being elusive

Antonyms

honesty

365 1.0

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

How Deceptive

fraudulence

1 8.7

deceptiveness

1 7.2

openness

22 3.5

Surface Forms

deceptiveness singular

deceptivenesses plural

Morphology

deceptiveness = deceptive (semi-transparent) = decept + ive + ness

Forming a noun with '-ness' from the adjective 'deceptive' is a regular, clearly derivational process meaning 'the quality of being deceptive.'

Etymology

Deceptiveness comes from the same root as deceive, from the Latin decipere meaning 'to take in' or 'to catch'. So something deceptive 'takes you in' by making you believe something that is not true.