SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
deception
noun
The act of leading someone to believe something false, or a device used to do so.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Act of misleading
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA ruse is a particular device; deception is the broader act or strategy.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See deception in use
The mystery's central deception involved two nearly identical letters.
In a different club dispute, an exhibition organizer used deception by labeling several empty display slots as confirmed bookings to create an impression of high demand.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license