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deceptive

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅cep⋅tive

[di-sep-tiv]
–adjective
1. apt or tending to deceive: The enemy's peaceful overtures may be deceptive.
2. perceptually misleading: It looks like a curved line, but it's deceptive.

Origin:
1605–15; < ML dēceptīvus, equiv. to L dēcept(us) (see deception ) + -īvus -ive


de⋅cep⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
de⋅cep⋅tive⋅ness, noun


1. delusive, fallacious, specious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To deceptive
de·cep·tive   (dĭ-sěp'tĭv)   
adj.  Deceptive or tending to deceive.
de·cep'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·cep·tive
Pronunciation: di-'sep-tiv
Function: adjective
: tending or having capacity to deceive <deceptive trade practices> —compare FRAUDULENT, MISLEADING
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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