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Dictionary.com

deluding

ADJECTIVE
deceptive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambiguous deceitful disingenuous false fraudulent misleading slick sneaky subtle tricky underhanded unreliable
WEAK
astucious beguiling bum catchy crafty cunning deceiving delusive delusory designing fake fallacious fishy foxy illusory imposturous indirect insidious lying mock oblique off phony plausible rascal roguish scheming seeming serpentine shifty slippery sly snide specious spurious treacherous two-faced underhand wily
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aboveboard forthright frank genuine honest open real reliable sincere true trustworthy truthful valid
WEAK
upright
ADJECTIVE
delusive
Synonyms
WEAK
apparent beguiling chimerical deceiving fallacious false fanciful fantastic illusive illusory imaginary misleading ostensible quixotic seeming specious spurious visionary
Antonyms
WEAK
actual certain factual honest real truthful
ADJECTIVE
delusory
Synonyms
WEAK
chimeric chimerical deceitful deceiving delusive fallacious false illusive illusory imaginary misleading
ADJECTIVE
fallacious
Synonyms
WEAK
beguiling deceiving deceptive delusive delusory erroneous fictitious fishy fraudulent illogical illusory incorrect invalid irrational mad misleading mistaken off phony reasonless sophistic sophistical spurious unfounded ungrounded unreal unreasonable unreasoned unsound untrue way-off
Antonyms
WEAK
correct real true truthful
ADJECTIVE
false
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deceitful deceptive malicious misleading
WEAK
apostate base beguiling canting corrupt crooked deceiving delusive devious dishonorable disloyal double-dealing duplicitous faithless falsehearted forsworn foul lying malevolent mean mythomaniac perfidious perjured rascally recreant renegade scoundrelly traitorous treacherous treasonable two-faced underhanded unfaithful unscrupulous untrustworthy venal villainous wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frank honest open truthful upright
WEAK
accurate actual correct factual genuine just known precise real reliable right straight substantiated true valid
ADJECTIVE
hypocritical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deceptive duplicitous false insincere sanctimonious self-righteous unnatural
WEAK
affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling dissembling double double-dealing faithless feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaical phony pietistic pious smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unreliable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forthright frank genuine honest humble open real truthful
WEAK
actual authentic just reliable righteous sincere upright
ADJECTIVE
misleading
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambiguous deceitful disingenuous evasive false inaccurate puzzling wrong
STRONG
beguiling bewildering confounding deceiving distracting perplexing
WEAK
casuistical catchy delusive delusory demagogic fallacious sophistical specious spurious tricky
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accurate correct frank honest right sincere straight truthful
ADJECTIVE
Pecksniffian
Synonyms
WEAK
affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling deceptive dissembling double double-dealing duplicitous faithless false feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow insincere jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaic pharisaical phony pietistic pious sanctimonious self-righteous smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unnatural unreliable
ADJECTIVE
pharisaic
Synonyms
WEAK
Pecksniffian affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling deceptive dissembling double double-dealing duplicitous faithless false feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow insincere jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaical phony pietistic pious sanctimonious self-righteous smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unnatural unreliable
ADJECTIVE
pharisaical
Synonyms
WEAK
Pecksniffian affected artificial assuming bland canting captious caviling deceptive dissembling double double-dealing duplicitous faithless false feigning fishy fraudulent glib hollow insincere jivey left-handed lying moralistic oily pharisaic phony pietistic pious sanctimonious self-righteous smooth smooth-spoken smooth-tongued snide specious spurious two-faced unctuous unnatural unreliable
ADJECTIVE
sophistic
Synonyms
WEAK
beguiling deceiving deceptive delusive delusory erroneous false fictitious fishy fraudulent illogical illusory incorrect invalid irrational mad misleading mistaken off phony reasonless sophistical specious spurious unfounded ungrounded unreal unreasonable unreasoned unsound untrue way-off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If he really believes that the job of making peace is done, then he is deluding himself.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

There could be “huge social ruptures where one side sees the other as very cruelly exploiting AI while the other side sees the first as deluding itself into thinking there’s sentience there,” he said.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2025

But if they really believe they can stay in these two separate lanes, they’re deluding themselves.

From Slate • May 23, 2025

“But I think really they will be deluding themselves if they think that that bodes well for the next general election.”

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2023

If she is not, I have been sadly deluding myself.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger