Standard Lemma guide

deceptively

adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪˈsɛptɪvli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S EH1 P T IH0 V L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a deceptive manner; misleadingly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2010, Australian Law Dictionarydeceptively similar, Oxford Reference A trade mark is deceptively similar to another trade mark if it so nearly resembles that other trade mark that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Actually but not apparently.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Apparently but not actually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in a misleading way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the exam looked deceptively easy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deceivingly, misleadingly

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English deceptive Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English deceptively From deceptive + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: enganyosament — in a deceptive manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 看似 (kànsì) — in a deceptive manner
  • Esperanto: trompe — in a deceptive manner
  • Finnish: petollisesti — in a deceptive manner
  • French: fallacieusement — in a deceptive manner
  • German: täuschend — in a deceptive manner
  • German: irreführenderweise — in a deceptive manner
  • German: trügerischerweise — in a deceptive manner
  • Italian: ingannevolmente — in a deceptive manner
  • Middle English: deceyvably — in a deceptive manner
  • Portuguese: enganosamente — in a deceptive manner
  • Swedish: vilseledande — in a deceptive manner