deceptively

Everyday

1. Deceptively means in a way that makes something seem different from what it really is: "the question looks deceptively easy" means it seems easy but is actually hard. tree →
2. In house adverts, "deceptively spacious" means the house is bigger inside than it looks from outside. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, a "deceptively simple" problem hides a trick: read carefully. In stories, a deceptively calm sea or a deceptively kind stranger warns the reader to be careful. Phrases: deceptively simple, deceptively easy, deceptively spacious, deceptively strong.

Examples

• The puzzle looked deceptively easy, but nobody solved it. tree →
• The river looks deceptively calm, but the current is strong. tree →
• The house is deceptively spacious inside. tree →
• The little dog is deceptively strong. tree →
• It was a deceptively simple question with a trick. tree →
• The ice looked deceptively thick, so we stayed off it. tree →

Note

Trap: "deceptively" can be unclear — "deceptively small" could mean it looks small but isn't, or looks big but is small. Usually it means the truth is the opposite of how it looks. Related: deceive, deception, deceptive.