Synonyms for deception
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Deceit
deceit, trickery, ruse, subterfuge, dissimulation, illusion, duplicity, double-dealing, fraud, swindle, chicanery, trick, lie, fallacy, hypocrisy, misrepresentation, dissembling, delusion, imposture, artifice, cunning, sophistry
Other
flim-flam, flam, under-handedness, fullam dated UK
Definitions
- n. 1
An instance of actions and/or schemes fabricated to mislead someone into believing a lie or inaccuracy.
She got the money out of the tourist by deception.
Forms
- Plural
- deceptions → deceits, trickeries, ruses, subterfuges…
Choose the right word
Deceit is the habit, deception the act; guile applies to the disposition out of which deceit and deception grow, and also to their actual practise. Falsehood and lying are in utterance; deceit and deception may be merely in act or implication.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- deceit He acquired a great fortune by using deceit and treachery.
- ruse All the sweet talk was just a ruse to get her into bed.
- trickery The ones who lack courage, exceed in trickery.
- subterfuge I apologize for the subterfuge.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| deception | rising | |
| deceit | rising | |
| ruse | rising | |
| trickery | rising | |
| subterfuge | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- lie1
- 4 letters
- ruse1, flam1
- 5 letters
- trick1, fraud1
- 6 letters
- deceit2, fullam2
- 7 letters
- cunning2, fallacy3, swindle2
- 8 letters
- illusion3, delusion3, trickery3, artifice3
- 9 letters
- hypocrisy4, duplicity4, chicanery4, sophistry3, imposture
- 10 letters
- subterfuge3
- 11 letters
- dissembling3
- 13 letters
- dissimulation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (deceit2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- supercherie
- Deutsch
- Irreführung