deceive
To trick someone into believing something that is not true.
deceive in a sentence
- The fox deceived the hen by pretending to be her friend, when really he planned to steal her eggs.
- Magicians deceive our eyes, making us believe the coin has truly vanished.
Words that mean something similar
trick, fool, mislead
Careful: deceive is not betray
Deceiving is tricking someone into believing something untrue. Betraying is breaking the trust of someone who relied on you. Read why children mix them up.
More words about behaviour & manners
- decline: To politely say no to something you have been offered.
- dedicate: To give your time and effort to something because it matters to you.
- defiant: Refusing to do what you are told.
- deliberate: Done on purpose, not by accident.
- demure: Quiet, shy and very well-behaved.
- deprive: To take away something that a person needs.
- deter: To put someone off doing something.
- devote: To give a lot of your time, effort or love to something.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test