Deceive | Definition of deceive by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of DECEIVE

transitive verb

1

archaic : ensnare

2

a obsolete : to be false to

b archaic : to fail to fulfill

3

obsolete : cheat

4

: to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid

5

archaic : to while away

intransitive verb

: to practice deceit; also : to give a false impression <appearances can deceive>

— de·ceiv·er noun

— de·ceiv·ing·ly \-ˈsē-viŋ-lē\ adverb

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Origin of DECEIVE

Middle English, from Anglo-French deceivre, from Latin decipere, from de- + capere to take — more at heave

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DECEIVE

Synonyms: bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, delude, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick, do a number on, lead one down the garden path (also lead one up the garden path), pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes

Antonyms: undeceive

Synonym Discussion of DECEIVE

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness <tried to deceive me about the cost>. mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional <I was misled by the confusing sign>. delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth <we were deluded into thinking we were safe>. beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving <was beguiled by false promises>.