Duplicitous: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used to describe someone who intentionally hides their true feelings or intentions, especially in order to deceive others for personal gain.

• His duplicitous behavior made it hard to trust him.
• She led a duplicitous life, pretending to be someone she wasn't.

Suitable for describing someone who intentionally lies or tricks people. Usually has a negative connotation.

• He was deceitful about his qualifications.
• Her deceitful actions caused a lot of harm to the company.

Refers to someone who presents one attitude or set of feelings to one group of people and a different attitude or set of feelings to another. Usually used in informal contexts and has a very negative connotation.

• She is so two-faced; she pretends to be your friend but talks behind your back.
• He realized his colleague was two-faced when he found out what he had said to their boss.

Generally used to describe someone who is not truthful or trustworthy in their actions or words. It is a broad term and has a very negative connotation.

• The employee was fired for being dishonest about his expenses.
• She gave a dishonest answer to the question.

Used to describe something or someone that gives a false impression or seems to be one way but is actually another. It can refer to both people and things.

• Appearances can be deceptive.
• The advertisement was very deceptive.