Deceitfulness: meaning, definitions and examples

This word often describes a person's trait of being untrustworthy and constantly lying or hiding the truth. It is typically used to describe a pattern of behavior rather than a single instance.

• John's deceitfulness made it hard for anyone to trust him
• Her deceitfulness ruined their friendship

This word is used to describe a lack of honesty. It can refer to both significant acts and general behavior and has a negative connotation.

• His dishonesty was evident in his fake stories
• Dishonesty in relationships can cause serious harm

This word is used when someone shows two-faced behavior, saying one thing while doing another. It indicates hypocrisy and deliberate deceit.

• Her duplicity was revealed when she was caught spreading rumors
• He was fired for his duplicity in business deals

This word is best used when referring to the act of deceiving someone. It focuses on the action rather than the character trait and is often used in contexts involving trickery or misleading information.

• He used deception to gain their trust
• The magician's deception left everyone amazed

This word is used to refer to actions involving deceit for financial or personal gain. It is often used in legal and formal contexts related to fraudulent acts.

• The company was accused of fraudulence in their accounting
• He went to jail for his fraudulence in the stock market

Deceitfulness refers to the act of being dishonest or misleading. It generally carries a negative connotation.

• His deceitfulness caused many people to lose trust in him.
• She was known for her deceitfulness in business dealings.

Cunning describes someone who is skilled at achieving their goals through use of clever but deceitful means. It often has a negative connotation.

• The politician's cunning strategy won him the election, though not without controversy.
• She used her cunning to outsmart her competitors.

Craftiness implies being clever in achieving one's aims, often through indirect or deceitful methods. It can be used positively to describe clever plans, but often has a slightly negative tinge.

• His craftiness helped him solve problems that others couldn't.
• The fox's craftiness was legendary in the village stories.

Slyness denotes a deceitful or manipulative character that often operates under the radar. It generally has a negative connotation.

• His slyness was evident in the way he manipulated his friends.
• The slyness in her smile hinted at hidden intentions.

Trickery involves using tricks or deceit to achieve something. It is always negative and implies dishonest actions.

• The magician's act was full of clever trickery.
• Their plan was foiled due to their reliance on trickery.