deceitful

English

Alternative forms

• deceiptful (obsolete)
• deceiptfull (obsolete)
• deceitfull (archaic)

Etymology

deceit +‎ -ful

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈsiːtfʊl/, /-fl̩/

Adjective

deceitful (comparative more deceitful, superlative most deceitful)

1. Deliberately misleading or cheating.
   • c. 1590, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, [Act II, scene vii]:

     All theſe are ſeruants to deceitfull men.

   • 1611, Bible (King James Version), Proverbs 27:6:

     Faithfull are the woundes of a friend : but the kiſſes of an enemy are deceitfull.

   • a. 1826, Thomas Moore, “This World Is All a Fleeting Show”, in The Works of Thomas Moore, page 471:

     This world is all a fleeting show, / For man’s illusion given ; / The smiles of Joy, the tears of Woe, / Deceitful shine, deceitful flow — / There’s nothing true but Heaven !

2. deceptive, two-faced

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:deceptive

Translations

deliberately misleading or cheating

• Bulgarian: измамен (bg) (izmamen), неверен (bg) (neveren)
• Finnish: vilpillinen (fi)
• French: trompeur (fr) m, tricheur (fr) m
• Greek:

  Ancient: ἀπατηλός (apatēlós)

• Italian: bugiardo (it) m

• Latin: mendāx, pellāx
• Maori: titipa
• Portuguese: enganador (pt) m, trapaceiro (pt) m
• Russian: лжи́вый (ru) (lžívyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: breugach, meallta, mealltach
• Swedish: vilseledande (sv)

deceptive

• Bulgarian: измамнически (bg) (izmamničeski)
• French: trompeur (fr) m
• Italian: bugiardo (it) m

• Russian: обма́нчивый (ru) (obmánčivyj)
• Swedish: vilseledande (sv)