deceived

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "deceived" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone has been tricked into believing something that is not true. Example sentence: He felt betrayed when he discovered he had been deceived by his friend.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The only people we deceived were the North Korean government".

The Guardian

The problem is, you don't trust your boyfriend - and who would blame you, as he clearly deceived you by seeing his ex?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The Tasmanian and Australian people have been grossly deceived, as has the World Heritage Commission".

The Guardian

"You deceived us when you went to Obama and [House minority leader Nancy] Pelosi to get your votes for the cromnibus," Gohmert said in comments directed at Boehner over December's fraught passage of a spending bill.

The Guardian

But let us not do so on the basis of pretending that we were somehow deceived about the true nature of what we were joining.

The Guardian - Opinion

Charlie Mulgrew deceived the goalkeeper Jamie Langfield with a free-kick – intended as a cross – for the opening goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Legal action began in December 2011 against the Metropolitan police on behalf of the eight women who claim they were deceived into having long-term intimate relationships with undercover police officers.

The Guardian

It fell, crucially, to Sutton a couple of minutes before half-time and was the first of two set pieces which deceived Coventry.

The Guardian - Sport

The International Labour Organisation ILOO) estimates that in 2011, almost 21 million people were trapped in jobs that they were coerced or deceived into, jobs that they were unable to leave.

The Guardian

They are the only ones deceived by his moderate demeanour.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Other shareholders may feel deceived like I do and wish to take similar action.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deceived" when you want to emphasize that someone was intentionally misled or tricked into believing something false. It often carries a stronger connotation of intentionality than words like "misled" or "mistaken".

Common error

Avoid using "deceived" excessively in passive voice constructions. Active voice often provides a clearer and more direct way to express who is doing the deceiving. For example, instead of "They were deceived by the company", consider "The company deceived them".

Linguistic Context

The word "deceived" primarily functions as the past participle of the verb "deceive". It is often used in passive voice constructions to indicate that someone or something has been tricked or misled. Ludwig confirms that this is the correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "deceived" is a versatile verb form frequently used to express that someone has been tricked or misled. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and commonly found in diverse writing contexts. The usage leans heavily toward News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science sources, suggesting its prevalence in reporting instances of manipulation and dishonesty. When employing "deceived", consider its active or passive use for clarity, and be mindful of the intentionality it implies. Alternatives such as "misled", "tricked", and "duped" offer nuanced options depending on the context. Be aware of overusing "deceived" in passive voice constructions, and aim for a strong voice. Whether navigating formal reports, news articles, or casual conversations, "deceived" is a valuable tool to emphasize that someone was intentionally misled.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misled

Indicates being led to believe something untrue, similar to deceived but can imply less intentionality.

tricked

Suggests a more active and intentional act of deception than "deceived".

duped

Implies being fooled or swindled, carrying a stronger connotation of gullibility.

hoodwinked

Suggests deceiving someone through trickery or misrepresentation.

taken in

Means to be deceived or fooled, often implying a sense of naivety.

defrauded

Involves deceiving someone for financial gain or to obtain something illegally.

swindled

Similar to defrauded, implying a dishonest scheme to deprive someone of money or possessions.

betrayed

Suggests a breach of trust in addition to being deceived, often by someone close.

misinformed

Implies receiving incorrect information, which may or may not be intentional deception.

bamboozled

A more informal and playful way of saying deceived, suggesting confusion or bewilderment.

FAQs

How can I use "deceived" in a sentence?

You can use "deceived" to indicate that someone has been tricked into believing something that is not true. For example, "The public was "deceived" by the politician's promises".

What's a less formal way to say "deceived"?

Less formal alternatives to "deceived" include "tricked", "fooled", or "taken in" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "deceived" and "misled"?

While both words indicate that someone was given false information, "deceived" often implies intentionality, whereas "misled" can suggest that the false information was unintentional.

When is it more appropriate to use "deceived" over other similar words?

Use "deceived" when you want to emphasize that someone was intentionally tricked or misled. It carries a stronger connotation of dishonesty and manipulation than words like "mistaken" or "misinformed".