it was deceived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was deceived" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to a subject that has been misled or tricked in some way. Example: "The organization believed the false information and it was deceived into making poor decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jim Sysko, a deputy state attorney general, says he accepted Chase's contention it was deceived on the rent payments, but was weighing the bank's overall role when Chase offered to help the buyers by reducing their mortgages.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The FTC said it was probing whether Facebook violated a 2011 agreement settling claims it was deceiving users about its privacy policy.

Huffington Post

In recent years, Mr. Byrne had filed several lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Church, claiming that it was deceiving the public with teachings that it knew were false.

The New York Times

If reports are true, then Chase was deceiving the public and it was deceiving investors.

Huffington Post

Jackie learned to live by the store's motto, Mundus Vult Deipi Decipiatur, "The world wants to be deceived, let it be deceived," but only to a point.

The New York Times

It is deceiving".

The Guardian

But often it's deceiving.

The New York Times - Arts

While that may be technically true, it is deceiving.

The New York Times

It's deceiving too; you think it's a throwaway pop song but its got a bit more soul to it.

The Guardian - Music

His music was being conducted by one of the world's great conductors and a fervent admirer, and it is deceiving to call the Juilliard players a student orchestra.

The New York Times - Arts

And it's deceiving us if we think that government can create real growth.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was deceived", ensure that the context clearly identifies who or what perpetrated the deception for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "it was deceived" when the subject actively participated in or willingly ignored warning signs of the deception. Use it when the subject is genuinely unaware and misled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was deceived" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (represented by "it") was the recipient of the action of deceiving. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was deceived" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that a subject has been misled or tricked. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and provides diverse examples, primarily from news and media sources. While alternatives like ""it was misled"" or ""it was tricked"" exist, "it was deceived" maintains a neutral tone suitable for professional communication. It's crucial to use this phrase when the subject genuinely lacked awareness of the deceit, preventing misattribution. In summary, "it was deceived" serves as a clear and concise way to communicate that something has been subjected to deception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was misled

Replaces "deceived" with "misled", keeping the passive voice and similar meaning.

it was tricked

Substitutes "deceived" with "tricked", maintaining the passive voice and conveying a sense of being fooled.

it had been deceived

Changes the tense to past perfect passive, emphasizing the action was completed before a certain point.

it was fooled

Replaces "deceived" with "fooled", providing a more informal synonym.

it fell victim to deception

Transforms the phrase to indicate that the subject became a victim of deceit.

it was a victim of fraud

Indicates the subject was harmed by a fraudulent act.

it was hoodwinked

Uses the less common word "hoodwinked" for a more colorful expression of being deceived.

it was duped

Replaces "deceived" with "duped", suggesting a cunning form of deception.

it was taken in

Offers an idiomatic alternative, implying acceptance of a false premise.

it was played for a fool

Suggests a deliberate and humiliating act of deception.

FAQs

What does "it was deceived" mean?

The phrase "it was deceived" means that something, whether an organization, a person, or an entity, was tricked or misled into believing something that was not true.

How can I use "it was deceived" in a sentence?

You can use "it was deceived" to describe a situation where something was led to believe false information. For example, "The company believed the marketing campaign and "it was deceived" into investing in the project."

What are some alternatives to "it was deceived"?

Alternatives to "it was deceived" include "it was misled", "it was tricked", or "it was fooled". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it was deceive" instead of "it was deceived"?

No, "it was deceive" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form requires the past participle "deceived". Therefore, the proper phrase is ""it was deceived"".