How to Use deceptive in a Sentence

deceptive

adjective
  • That is what makes new homes deceptive.
    — Ryan Brennan may 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
  • But at the same time, language seemed less deceptive then.
    — Laura Brown, Artforum, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Katie’s denial was once again found to be deceptive.
    — Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The deceptive nature of her fineness was right there in the name.
    — New York Times, 29 Jan. 2021
  • That means no calling at odd hours, no threats and no deceptive tactics.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
  • That lull is deceptive and even stronger winds can quickly resume.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
  • Jess retains her odds from last week, but that’s a little deceptive.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021
  • That lull is deceptive and even stronger winds can quickly resume.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
  • In all the best ways, there isn’t much about Mike Hilton that isn’t deceptive.
    — Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 29 Jan. 2023
  • Locked doors, bloody bits in trunks, deceptive lovers with ill intentions.
    — Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • When shopping for a vacuum, the price can be deceptive, whether high or low.
    — Matt Fleming, chicagotribune.com, 26 Mar. 2021
  • The junior used a deceptive windup and changed speeds to scatter nine hits in eight innings.
    — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
  • Looks can be deceptive, though, and all kinds of stuff can hide within little valleys.
    — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024
  • That deceptive time helped him last until the Vikings’ second pick in the first round.
    — Andrew Krammer, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020
  • The ease with which Kavakos played was deceptive in its clean, simple beauty.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2021
  • The Jaguars were truly blown out for the first time all season, but even that’s deceptive.
    — Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 14 Nov. 2021
  • Sometimes that stat is deceptive.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Then again, the whole movie is designed as a (deceptive) downward spiral.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2024
  • Wen said deceptive practices are sometimes the only way to get to the root of a problem.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 24 Sep. 2021
  • Since, again, they’re not shown until late in the purchasing process, the fees feel even more deceptive.
    — Matt Wake | [email protected], al, 15 June 2023
  • But deceptive in its power, its beauty.
    — Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The ads are so deceptive that at least one Alaskan radio station refused to air them.
    — Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2022
  • Nor is there anything untoward and deceptive about it.
    — Adam Gelb, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Not sharing news of the increase was deceptive, and the company should be fined.
    — Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Looks can be deceptive, especially on the first day.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Savings are only on brand names, which can be deceptive when comparing prices.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Car dealers, Dwyer said, would not be able to lie or be deceptive about cost and financing terms.
    — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 4 July 2024
  • Not every problem is deceptive, and that distinction is the whole game.
    — Sophie Ren, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Chicago arts venues are united in their disdain for the deceptive practice.
    — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • That's what's so deceptive and dangerous about the covid-19 spread.
    — Mike Masterson, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deceptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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