DECEPTIVE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does deceptive mean? 

• DECEPTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective DECEPTIVE has 2 senses:

1. causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true

2. designed to deceive or mislead either deliberately or inadvertently

  Familiarity information: DECEPTIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECEPTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true

Synonyms:

deceptive; delusory

Context example:

a delusory pleasure

Similar:

unreal (not actually such; being or seeming fanciful or imaginary)

Derivation:

deceive (cause someone to believe an untruth)

deceive (be false to; be dishonest with)

deceptiveness (the quality of being deceptive)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Designed to deceive or mislead either deliberately or inadvertently

Synonyms:

deceptive; misleading

Context example:

statistics can be presented in ways that are misleading

Similar:

dishonest; dishonorable (deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive)

Derivation:

deceive (cause someone to believe an untruth)

deceive (be false to; be dishonest with)

deceptiveness (the quality of being deceptive)

 Context examples 

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact,” he answered, laughing.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Well, now, who would have thought it? And how deceptive appearances may be, to be sure! Such a nice young man to look at! It is a lesson to us not to trust our own judgment, is it not, Lestrade?”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He no longer sprawled and straddled, and already he was developing the gait of his mother, slinking and furtive, apparently without exertion, yet sliding along with a swiftness that was as deceptive as it was imperceptible.

(White Fang, by Jack London)