1
2
: an attempt or device to deceive : trick
Her excuse turned out to be a deceit.
3
: the quality of being dishonest or misleading : the quality of being deceitful : deceitfulness
… far from deceit or guile.—
John Milton
John MiltonSynonyms
Examples of deceit in a Sentence
a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit
she's completely free of deceit
Recent Examples on the Web
Barry, an Irish rogue, manages, through evolving deceits, to pass himself off as an English aristocrat.
—Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024
Not a question was asked without Trump turning the debate into a vehicle for deceit.
—Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
Prosecutors and Rao, their star witness, say Ozy shredded the line between hopeful hype and bald-faced deceit.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
However, this recent ruling also highlights the fragility of our democracy as at the heart of the conviction was the purposeful deceit of the American people to aid Trump in his election to our nation’s highest office.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for deceit 
Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024
Not a question was asked without Trump turning the debate into a vehicle for deceit.
—Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
Prosecutors and Rao, their star witness, say Ozy shredded the line between hopeful hype and bald-faced deceit.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
However, this recent ruling also highlights the fragility of our democracy as at the heart of the conviction was the purposeful deceit of the American people to aid Trump in his election to our nation’s highest office.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for deceit
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deceit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deceit
Cite this Entry
“Deceit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceit. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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