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deceitfulness

deceitfulness

2 6.5
Trying to make other people believe something that is not true
  • noun
  • /dɪˈsiːtfəl.nəs/
translation icon : engaño
  • The detective uncovered the deceitfulness behind the suspect's alibi.
  • my deceitfulness

Examples

  • Whereas the first night is mostly devoted to praising female goodness and demonstrating male cruelty, the theme that dominates the second night is the deceitfulness of the male sex and the trustworthiness of women.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Her mother and the teacher both interpreted this as laziness and deceitfulness, and she'd spent miserable hours with the flashcards until she passed into third grade.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • In the third grade, because of deceitfulness in the public school system, my parents sent me to a Catholic school.

    Blog text (6)
  • You judge her deceitfulness; you judge her manipulative nature.

    Blog text (34)
  • ...only one small ray of light suffices to prove their deceitfulness.

  • But the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the desire for other things enter in.

  • I beg your forgiveness for my selfish deceitfulness, and I will go and reassure Polina.

  • Jesus says, "The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful."

    Blog text (15)
  • Main characteristics of a conduct disorder are the following: aggression directed at persons and animals; destroying property; deceitfulness or pilfering; and serious breaches of rules of conduct.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Thank goodness the American public is intelligent enough to see the deceitfulness and hypocrisy of these Chicago thugs and will not be fooled by their distractions and lies.

    Blog text (5)

Synonyms

lying
vsdeceitfulness
215 2.1

Telling something that is not true on purpose

is about the general tendency to mislead, not only single false statements
cheating
vsdeceitfulness
187 2.1

An act of tricking someone to get an unfair advantage

is the general inclination to mislead, not limited to gaining advantage
deception
vsdeceitfulness
163 3.9

An action that makes someone believe something not true

is the ongoing tendency to mislead people rather than single false acts
deceit
vsdeceitfulness
66 4.6

Dishonest action meant to trick someone

highlights the ongoing tendency to mislead rather than single deceptive acts
dishonesty
vsdeceitfulness
46 3.2

Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing

focuses specifically on misleading others rather than all dishonest acts
cunning
vsdeceitfulness
28 4.5

The ability to get what you want by tricking people

is more generally about misleading tendency, not focused on clever method
trickery
vsdeceitfulness
27 4.9

To use dishonest ways to cheat people

is broader, indicating a persistent tendency to mislead beyond tricks
duplicity
vsdeceitfulness
12 8.1

Dishonest behavior that hides true intentions to trick someone

is the broader tendency to mislead, not only pretending different intentions
mendacity
vsdeceitfulness
  • Formal
7 9.3

A habit of often telling lies that makes it difficult for people to trust you

is wider, covering misleading ways beyond simple untruth telling
insincerity
vsdeceitfulness
4 5.6

Not showing true feelings when you speak or act

is about active misleading behavior rather than merely lacking sincerity
disingenuousness
vsdeceitfulness
3 8.8

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

is the broader tendency to mislead rather than pretending lack of knowledge
dissembling
vsdeceitfulness
3 9.9

Hiding your true feelings or intentions by pretending

focuses on the general tendency to mislead not only motive hiding
falseness
vsdeceitfulness
2 5.8

A way of speaking or acting that is not true

centers on causing others to believe falsehoods rather than mere falsity
deviousness
vsdeceitfulness
2 7.0

Secret actions that are dishonest or unfair to get what you want

is the general tendency to mislead, not only indirect method use
fraudulence
vsdeceitfulness
1 8.7

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

is the wider tendency to mislead, not restricted to financial motives
untruthfulness
vsdeceitfulness
1 7.0

Saying things that are not true on purpose

emphasizes the active tendency to mislead rather than mere falsehood
deceptiveness
vsdeceitfulness
1 7.2

A quality that makes something seem true when it is false

is the general tendency to mislead rather than specific acts of hiding truth
double-dealing
vsdeceitfulness
1 7.1

Dishonest behavior of pretending one thing but doing another

is the broader habit of misleading others rather than hiding two intentions
crookedness
vsdeceitfulness
1 6.9

Dishonest behavior by a person or group

is specifically about misleading others rather than overall corrupt behaviour
misleadingness
vsdeceitfulness
9.0

The quality of making people believe something that is not true

is the general ability to mislead, not only causing wrong impressions
dupery
vsdeceitfulness
9.9

Tricks that fool people to gain an advantage

is the general habit of misleading, not only advantage-seeking tricks
unscrupulousness
vsdeceitfulness
8.8

A habit of ignoring right and wrong and being dishonest to get what you want

is focused on misleading others rather than general lack of morals
cunningness
vsdeceitfulness
6.8

Being clever at getting what you want by tricking others

is the broader tendency to mislead rather than clever deceptive skill

Antonyms

365 1.0

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

13 2.7

Being honest and not telling lies

How Deceitful

fraudulence
1 8.7
perfidy
  • Formal
4 9.9
deceitfulness
2 6.5
duplicity
12 8.1
trickery
27 4.9

Surface Forms

deceitfulness singular

Morphology

deceitfulness = deceitful (transparent) = deceit + ful + ness

The word 'deceitfulness' is transparently formed from 'deceitful' by adding the suffix '-ness' to denote the quality or state.

Etymology

Deceitfulness comes from the Latin word decipere, which means 'to lead away' or 'to take away', and it is related to the English word capture ('to take'). So, deceitfulness is the quality of 'leading people away' from the truth — tricking or misleading them.