Usage Note: When deceptively is used to modify an adjective, the meaning can be unclear. Does the sentence The pool is deceptively shallow mean that the pool is shallower or deeper than it appears? Is it apparently shallow, but not really, or is it actually shallow but only looks deep? Thus, a deceptively complex person might be either complex or simple, depending on the point of view. The meaning of deceptively is thus very dependent upon the context, and writers should be careful to ensure that the word cannot be misinterpreted or avoid it entirely.