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# deceptive

adjective (deceptive; more deceptive, most deceptive)

«deceptive» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Giving a false idea or impression, so that something seems different from what it really is. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#m1)
2. Meant to trick or mislead people: «deceptive advertising». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths and science lessons: «Appearances can be deceptive» — a tall thin glass may hold less than it looks, and a problem may look easy but hide a trap. In safety lessons: deceptive messages or ads trick people. Phrases: «appearances can be deceptive», «deceptively simple», «deceptive advertising».

### Examples

- The calm sea was deceptive; there were strong currents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x1)
- Appearances can be deceptive — the tiny dog was very fierce. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x2)
- The question looked easy, but it was deceptive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x3)
- The ad was deceptive because the toy looked much bigger on TV. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x4)
- The tall glass is deceptive: it holds the same as the short wide one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x5)
- The slope looked gentle, but it was deceptive and very icy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/#x6)

### Note

Noun: «deception»; verb: «deceive» (i before e after c: «receive», «deceive»). «Deceptively» can confuse: «deceptively simple» means it seems simple but is not. In maths, a deceptive picture does not change the actual numbers; measure or calculate instead of guessing.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «deceptive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deceptive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«deceptive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deceptive.html) on Mova free.