have been deceived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been deceived" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a situation in which someone has been tricked or misled. For example: "The victims of the scam had been deceived by the criminals' false promises of easy money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Chávez, you see, must have been deceived.

The New York Times

"I think they have been deceived.

The Guardian

Sports fans and spectators have been deceived".

The Guardian - Sport

There is no point arguing that businesses have been deceived.

Independent

"After all the times they have been deceived.

The Guardian

But he said he believed Mr. Trutino may have been deceived.

The New York Times

By the time we realize that we ourselves may have been deceived — well, we're done for.

The New Yorker

"We are passing up a great opportunity and again the American people will have been deceived".

The New York Times

"A lot of women have been deceived and have left the country".

The Guardian

Now those depositors -- saying they have been deceived, cheated and lied to -- are threatening legal action.

The New York Times

"The fact is that they have been deceived for centuries and their demands are right in part".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been deceived", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what caused the deception and the specific nature of the misleading information or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "have been deceived" when the situation involves genuine mistakes or misunderstandings rather than intentional acts of deception. Use phrases like "have been mistaken" or "have been misinformed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been deceived" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject has received the action of being deceived. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is perfectly valid in English. This is commonly found in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been deceived" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that someone has been misled or tricked. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and can be used to express a state of being misled. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals its prevalence in news and media contexts, with neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure clear indication of the deceiver and nature of deception and also consider alternatives depending on intent. The phrase carries an authoritative weight, often implying serious or negative repercussions, thus warranting careful and precise application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been misled

Replaces "deceived" with "misled", indicating being led in the wrong direction or given incorrect information.

have been tricked

Substitutes "deceived" with "tricked", implying a cunning or deceitful act.

have been cheated

Substitutes "deceived" with "cheated", implying unfair treatment or violation of rules.

have been fooled

Replaces "deceived" with "fooled", suggesting a less malicious form of trickery or being made to look foolish.

have been duped

Substitutes "deceived" with "duped", suggesting a deliberate act of deception for personal gain.

have been hoodwinked

Replaces "deceived" with "hoodwinked", suggesting being tricked by elaborate deception.

have been conned

Substitutes "deceived" with "conned", implying being persuaded through lies or manipulation.

have been swindled

Replaces "deceived" with "swindled", indicating being cheated out of money or possessions.

have been taken advantage of

Shifts the focus to the exploitation aspect of deception, highlighting the unfair advantage taken.

have been played for a fool

Emphasizes the feeling of being made to look foolish or gullible through deception.

FAQs

How can I use "have been deceived" in a sentence?

You can use "have been deceived" to indicate that someone was tricked or misled, for example: "The investors "have been deceived" by the company's false promises."

What can I say instead of "have been deceived"?

You can use alternatives like "have been misled", "have been tricked", or "have been fooled" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "have been deceived" in formal writing?

Yes, "have been deceived" is appropriate in formal writing when describing situations where deception or trickery has occurred. Ensure the context supports the use of such a strong term.

What's the difference between "have been deceived" and "have been mistaken"?

"Have been deceived" implies intentional misleading, while "have been mistaken" suggests an honest error or misunderstanding. Deception involves a deliberate act to trick someone, whereas a mistake is unintentional.