deceitful
UK: dɪˈsiːtf(ə)l | US: dɪˈsitfəl
adj. Intentionally misleading or dishonest.
adj. Tending to deceive through false appearances or statements.
The word "deceitful" emerged in Middle English by combining "deceit" (rooted in Latin deception) with the suffix "-ful," which intensifies the trait. The logic is straightforward: someone "full of deceit" is inherently untrustworthy. The Latin decipere (to take away dishonestly) reflects the core idea of luring others into falsehoods.
His deceitful tactics made it impossible to trust his promises.
She gave a deceitful smile while hiding the truth.
The scam artist's deceitful behavior landed him in prison.
Politicians are often accused of being deceitful to gain votes.
The contract was voided due to deceitful clauses hidden in fine print.