Feint: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in situations where someone pretends to make a move or action in order to deceive an opponent, often in sports or combat.

• The boxer made a feint to the right before delivering a powerful left hook.
• She executed a quick feint to confuse the defender and scored the goal.

A general term for any act of misleading or deceiving. Often used in situations where there is a significant and intentional act of lying or trickery.

• The company's deception about the safety of its products led to a major scandal.
• He was known for his skills in deception, often tricking people into believing his lies.

Used to describe a false appearance or action intended to deceive. Often implies that someone is pretending to be something they are not.

• She called him under the pretense of needing help with a project, but she really just wanted to talk.
• His friendliness was just a pretense to get closer to her.

Commonly used in gambling or competitive situations where someone pretends to hold a stronger position or hand than they actually do. It can also refer to trying to deceive someone with confident but false statements.

• He decided to bluff and went all-in, even though he had a weak hand.
• She bluffed her way through the interview, pretending she had more experience than she really did.

This word is often used in sports or combat situations where someone pretends to make a move to confuse their opponent.

• The boxer used a feint to trick his opponent into lowering his guard.
• She made a feint to the right before quickly moving to the left.

This word is commonly used when someone intentionally makes someone believe something that is not true. It has a negative connotation.

• He managed to deceive the public with his false promises.
• She felt betrayed when she discovered he had deceived her for years.

This word is used when someone is trying to fool someone, often in a playful or harmless way, but it can also have a negative implication depending on the situation.

• They played a trick on their friend by hiding his phone.
• She tricked him into thinking the meeting was canceled.

This word is used when someone tries to divert attention away from something or someone.

• The noise outside distracted the students during their exam.
• He tried to distract her by pointing out something interesting on the other side of the room.