duplicitous

adjective

du·plic·i·tous du̇-ˈpli-sə-təs How to pronounce duplicitous (audio)

also dyu̇-

: marked by duplicity : deceptive in words or action

duplicitous tactics

duplicitously adverb

Did you know?

How to Remember What Duplicity Means

The idea of doubleness is at the core of duplicity. Duplicity comes from a Latin word meaning "double" or "twofold," and its original meaning in English has to do with a kind of deception in which you intentionally hide your true feelings or intentions behind false words or actions. If you are being duplicitous there are two yous: the one you're showing and the one you're hiding. And—key to the idea of duplicity—you're hiding that you in order to make people believe something that's not true.

The word is found in many works of literature, including the Bible:

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
— Proverbs 11:3 (New International Version)

Even when he sat opposite me in the kitchen, talking, he would turn his head a little toward the clock or the stove and look at me from the side, but with frankness and good nature. This trick did not suggest duplicity or secretiveness….
— Willa Cather, My Antonia, 1918

Arch read it at breakfast the day it came out and again that night. He admired its art but was most, affected, and in fact discomfited, by its unblinking inventory of self-seeking and duplicity.
— Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003

Example Sentences

warned her not to trust the duplicitous art dealer

Recent Examples on the Web Years later, Sorvino would direct his own version of the story for Showtime, trading the role of duplicitous 1957 Fillmore High School basketball team member Romano for that of Coach Spinel and delighting Miller.

Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Jenkins’s degradation by her duplicitous husband, then her impending illness and death by venereal disease, represented a low point in female victimhood, perfectly timed for the burgeoning #MeToo movement.

Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 And then there's Babe Bennett (Winona Ryder), a duplicitous reporter who cozies up to the main character under false pretenses — and falls for his small-town charms.

Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 29 June 2022 To many of his new colleagues, Meadows quickly came across as duplicitous and untrustworthy.

Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 7 June 2022 Pike's duplicitous performance is a blast to witness, but seeing Marla meet her match is just as gratifying.

Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 13 June 2022 To Raffi, though, Gessen’s Russian rages seem duplicitous.

Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 June 2022 As implied earlier, felons, especially the ones who escape from prisons, are extremely clever and duplicitous in nature.

Naveen Joshi, Forbes, 2 June 2022 But, those who are in Mike’s immediate social circle have always known his duplicitous nature, and therefore his tentacled approach to business, socio-political activism, and Black financial empowerment is nothing new to them.

Jasmine Browley, Essence, 6 May 2022 See More

单词	duplicitous
释义	duplicitous adjective du·plic·i·tous du̇-ˈpli-sə-təs also dyu̇- : marked by duplicity : deceptive in words or action duplicitous tactics duplicitously adverb Did you know? How to Remember What Duplicity Means The idea of doubleness is at the core of duplicity. Duplicity comes from a Latin word meaning "double" or "twofold," and its original meaning in English has to do with a kind of deception in which you intentionally hide your true feelings or intentions behind false words or actions. If you are being duplicitous there are two yous: the one you're showing and the one you're hiding. And—key to the idea of duplicity—you're hiding that you in order to make people believe something that's not true. The word is found in many works of literature, including the Bible: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. — Proverbs 11:3 (New International Version) Even when he sat opposite me in the kitchen, talking, he would turn his head a little toward the clock or the stove and look at me from the side, but with frankness and good nature. This trick did not suggest duplicity or secretiveness…. — Willa Cather, My Antonia, 1918 Arch read it at breakfast the day it came out and again that night. He admired its art but was most, affected, and in fact discomfited, by its unblinking inventory of self-seeking and duplicity. — Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003 Synonyms bent [chiefly British] crooked deceptive dishonest double-dealing fast fraudulent guileful rogue shady sharp shifty underhand underhanded See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences warned her not to trust the duplicitous art dealer Recent Examples on the Web Years later, Sorvino would direct his own version of the story for Showtime, trading the role of duplicitous 1957 Fillmore High School basketball team member Romano for that of Coach Spinel and delighting Miller. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Jenkins’s degradation by her duplicitous husband, then her impending illness and death by venereal disease, represented a low point in female victimhood, perfectly timed for the burgeoning #MeToo movement. Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 And then there's Babe Bennett (Winona Ryder), a duplicitous reporter who cozies up to the main character under false pretenses — and falls for his small-town charms. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 29 June 2022 To many of his new colleagues, Meadows quickly came across as duplicitous and untrustworthy. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 7 June 2022 Pike's duplicitous performance is a blast to witness, but seeing Marla meet her match is just as gratifying. Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 13 June 2022 To Raffi, though, Gessen’s Russian rages seem duplicitous. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 June 2022 As implied earlier, felons, especially the ones who escape from prisons, are extremely clever and duplicitous in nature. Naveen Joshi, Forbes, 2 June 2022 But, those who are in Mike’s immediate social circle have always known his duplicitous nature, and therefore his tentacled approach to business, socio-political activism, and Black financial empowerment is nothing new to them. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 6 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology see duplicity First Known Use 1928, in the meaning defined above Legal Definition duplicitous adjective du·plic·i·tous dü-ˈpli-sə-təs, dyü- : marked by duplicity a duplicitous indictment duplicitous adjective as in deceptive given to or marked by cheating and deception warned her not to trust the duplicitous art dealer Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance deceptive fraudulent dishonest shady crooked rogue underhanded false shifty underhand guileful fast bent deceitful double-dealing artful unscrupulous treacherous unprincipled unethical deceiving sharp cunning unconscionable wily cagey subtle delusory perfidious sly crafty beguiling sneaky slick delusive insidious devious deluding slippery foxy furtive defrauding tricky cagy sneaking trickish Antonyms & Near Antonyms honest ethical honorable straight conscientious scrupulous upright decent forthright aboveboard straightforward just See More
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duplicitous

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Legal Definition

adjective

adjective