| English Dictionary |
JANUS-FACED
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Dictionary entry overview: What does Janus-faced mean?
• JANUS-FACED (adjective)
The adjective JANUS-FACED has 3 senses:
1. having or concerned with polarities or contrasts
2. marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
3. having two faces--one looking to the future and one to the past
Familiarity information: JANUS-FACED used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Having or concerned with polarities or contrasts
Context example:
a Janus-faced policy
Similar:
bipolar (having two poles)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
Synonyms:
ambidextrous; deceitful; double-dealing; double-faced; double-tongued; duplicitous; Janus-faced; two-faced
Context example:
a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer
Similar:
dishonest; dishonorable (deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having two faces--one looking to the future and one to the past
Synonyms:
Janus-faced; two-faced
Context example:
Janus the two-faced god
Similar:
faced (having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination)
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