deceiving

From the verb deceive: (⇒ conjugate)

deceiving is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ceive /dɪˈsiv/   v., -ceived, -ceiv•ing. 

1. to mislead by a false appearance or statement;
   delude: [~ + object]
   I never thought she would deceive me.
   [ ~ + obj + into + verb-ing]:
   They deceived her into thinking she would be promoted.

de•ceiv•er, n. [countable]
de•ceiv•ing•ly, adv. See -ceive-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ceive  (di sēv′), v., -ceived, -ceiv•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to mislead by a false appearance or statement;
   delude:
   They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter.
2. to be unfaithful to (one's spouse or lover).
3. [Archaic.] to while away (time).

v.i. 

4. to mislead or falsely persuade others;
   practice deceit:
   an engaging manner that easily deceives.

• Latin dēcipere, literally, to ensnare, equivalent. to dē- de- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take
• Old French deceivre
• Middle English deceiven 1250–1300

de•ceiv′a•ble•ness, de•ceiv′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
de•ceiv′a•bly, adv. 
de•ceiv′er, n. 
de•ceiv′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. cozen, dupe, fool, gull, hoodwink, trick, defraud, outwit, entrap, ensnare, betray. See cheat. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deceive / dɪˈsiːv/ verb (transitive)

1. to mislead by deliberate misrepresentation or lies
2. to delude (oneself)
3. to be unfaithful to (one's sexual partner)
4. to disappoint

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French deceivre, from Latin dēcipere to ensnare, cheat, from capere to take

deˈceivable adjective

deˈceiver noun