deceitful

Everyday

1. A deceitful person often lies or tricks people to make them believe things that are not true. tree →
2. A deceitful action or word is meant to trick someone. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, deceitful characters (like the wolf in «Little Red Riding Hood») use lies to get what they want; the reader learns not to trust them. In lessons on honesty and online safety, deceitful messages and scams try to fool you. Phrases: «deceitful behaviour», «a deceitful smile».

Examples

• The deceitful fox pretended to be the hen's friend. tree →
• It was deceitful to copy his homework and say it was yours. tree →
• The scam email was deceitful: it pretended to come from a bank. tree →
• She was hurt by her friend's deceitful words. tree →
• The villain hid his deceitful plan behind a smile. tree →
• Being deceitful can break people's trust. tree →
• The queen, who did not imagine that any person could be so deceitful, bade her stepmother welcome, and kept her beside her. tree →

Note

Spelling: «ei» after c (deceit, deceive). Noun: deceit; verb: deceive. Opposite: honest, truthful.

In Jewish tradition

Describing lying speech or false things. The Psalms often ask God to save the speaker from deceitful lips.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that guarding the tongue from lying and gossip is a very important duty.

Examples

• Thou lovest all devouring words, the deceitful tongue. (Writings PSA.52.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Be not desirous of his dainties; seeing they are deceitful food. (Writings PRO.23.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• O LORD, deliver my soul from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. (Writings PSA.120.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: «ei» after c (deceit, deceive). Noun: deceit; verb: deceive. Opposite: honest, truthful.