dupe

UK: djuːp | US: duːp

Definition
  1. n. a person who is easily deceived or tricked

  2. vt. to deceive or trick someone into believing something false

Structure

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Etymology

The word "dupe" originates from the French word "duppe," meaning a deceived person, which itself likely derived from the phrase "de huppe" (referring to the hoopoe bird, symbolizing foolishness in folklore). By the late 17th century, it entered English as both a noun (a gullible victim) and a verb (to deceive). The term retains its core idea of trickery, reflecting its historical association with naivety.

Examples
  1. He felt like a dupe after falling for the scam.

  2. The con artist duped tourists into buying fake tickets.

  3. Don’t be a dupe—always verify suspicious offers.

  4. She duped her colleagues with an elaborate prank.

  5. The documentary exposed how fraudsters dupe vulnerable individuals.