Hoodwink: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is tricked in a crafty or deceptive way. Often implies a sense of dishonesty or clever concealment of the truth.

• He hoodwinked everyone into believing he was a famous actor.
• They hoodwinked the tourists into buying fake souvenirs.

Used in serious contexts to describe lying or cheating, often causing harm or betrayal.

• She deceived her friends by hiding the truth.
• The company was accused of deceiving its customers.

Common in casual or humorous situations where someone is fooled or an illusion is created, often with the intent of having fun rather than causing harm.

• They enjoyed tricking their friends with practical jokes.
• The magician tricked the audience with his performance.

Often used when providing information that is incorrect or not true, leading someone to make a wrong decision or believe something that isn't accurate.

• The advertisement misled people into thinking the product was effective.
• He was misled by the false promises.

Used when someone is being deliberately deceived or misled, often through clever tricks or manipulation.

• The con artist hoodwinked the elderly woman into giving him her life savings.
• She felt completely hoodwinked after buying the fake designer bag.

A general term for the act of deceiving someone, often used in various contexts from personal relationships to politics.

• She was deeply hurt by his continuous deception.
• The company's deception about the safety of their product was eventually exposed.

Refers to the use of clever or artful deceit, often in playful, humorous, or light-hearted situations, but can also imply wrongful deceit.

• They used trickery to win the game, making everyone laugh with their clever moves.
• Beware of door-to-door salespeople who might use trickery to sell their products.

Specifically refers to criminal deception, often involving financial gain through dishonest means. This word usually has legal implications.

• He was arrested for committing tax fraud.
• The investors did not realize they were victims of a massive fraud until it was too late.