Deceptively: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something appears one way but is actually very different. It often implies a surprising or unexpected difference.

• The house looked deceptively small from the outside, but it was quite spacious inside.
• The puzzle seemed deceptively easy at first glance, but it turned out to be very challenging.

Used to describe actions or information that are intended to deceive or confuse, often without outright lying. It suggests that the truth is twisted or presented in a way that leads to a wrong interpretation.

• The advertisement misleadingly suggested that the product was effective for everyone.
• The politician's statement was misleadingly vague, leaving out important details.

Used in legal and formal contexts to describe actions that are intentionally deceitful and carried out to gain some advantage, often of a financial or legal nature.

• The company was found to have fraudulently reported its earnings to appear more profitable.
• He was arrested for fraudulently using someone else's credit card.

Used when something is not true or an assertion is incorrect. It often indicates an intentional or unintentional lie.

• He was falsely accused of stealing money from the company.
• The witness falsely testified that she had seen him at the crime scene.