deceptivede‧cep‧tive /dɪˈseptɪv/ adjective 
Some snakes move with deceptive speed (=move faster than you think or expect). Gwen’s students may look angelic, but appearances can be deceptive.2intended to make someone believe something that is not true: misleading and deceptive adverts deceptive practices—deceptively adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Federal organizations have been monitoring the Internet for deceptive advertisements, consumer fraud, and other unlawful activities.
- I know appearances can be deceptive, but Jeffrey didn't seem like a wife-beater.
- The sea here is very deceptive -- it looks calm but is in fact very dangerous.
- There is a deceptive simplicity to Irving Berlin's songs.
- But the shimmering white minaret, and the impressive dome, designed to shelter 3,500 worshippers, are deceptive.
- But these figures are highly deceptive.
- High slack systems, then, are often hotbed of deceptive activities that cover up the exercise of power for personal gain.
- Housing estates lie below the canal on both sides although there is a deceptive amount of greenery about.
- Such was their initiation to the deceptive intrigues of early twentieth-century geopolitics.
- Why do self-oriented intents and deceptive behaviors persist in organizations?
Longman Language Activatorwhen something or someone is different from the way they seem
use this to say that someone or something is more interesting, important, intelligent etc than they seem to be: · "I didn't know he wrote poetry." "Yes -- he also does painting. There's more to him than meets the eye."· People think of Bradford as a dull industrial city, but there is more to it than meets the eye.· It looks like a simple case of burglary, but there may be more to it than meets the eye.
seeming to be good, friendly, safe etc, but in fact being very different: · The sea here is very deceptive -- it looks calm but is in fact very dangerous.· Federal organizations have been monitoring the Internet for deceptive advertisements, consumer fraud, and other unlawful activities. appearances can be deceptive (=what seems to be true may not be true): · I know appearances can be deceptive, but Jeffrey didn't seem like a wife-beater.
: deceptively simple/easy etc seeming simple, easy etc, but actually very difficult: · The first question seemed deceptively simple.· The cycling route looks deceptively easy, especially when seen from a car.
use this to say that someone is not what they seem to be, especially because they are deliberately trying to trick you: · There's something odd about him -- I don't think he's what he seems. He might be a cop.· I've been doing a little research - our Mr Malamute is not what he seems.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Gwen’s students may look angelic, but appearances can be deceptive.
Gwen’s students may look angelic, but appearances can be deceptive.WORD FAMILYnoundeceitdeceiverdeceptionadjectivedeceitfuldeceptiveverbdeceiveadverbdeceptively
1something that is deceptive seems to be one thing but is in fact very different: Some snakes move with deceptive speed (=move faster than you think or expect). Gwen’s students may look angelic, but appearances can be deceptive.2intended to make someone believe something that is not true: misleading and deceptive adverts deceptive practices—deceptively adverb