likely to deceive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely to deceive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something has a high probability of misleading or tricking someone. Example: "The advertisement was found to be misleading and was deemed likely to deceive consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Prosser thus described this idea of a property-like right in the body to be a mere "fiction likely to deceive no one but a lawyer".

Vice

Prosser thus described this idea of a property-like right in the body to be a mere 'fiction likely to deceive no one but a lawyer.' Nonetheless, the fiction had real functional significance, since it enabled relatives to recover damages upon commercial and noncommercial interferences, and located the middle-level principle motivating this right in the idea of possessing the corpse".

Vice

The test: Is the tweet deceptive in nature or likely to deceive?

The Guardian

The law states that a commercial practice is a misleading action if it contains false information likely to deceive the average consumer and make them take a transactional decision they would not have taken otherwise.

The Guardian - Money

It is argued that once money is involved in crowdsensing, the participants are more likely to deceive or cheat the system to increase financial gains [1].

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

The appeals court also said notices sent by INA to policyholders informing them of the split "implied that nothing of consequence had occurred" and thus were "likely to deceive," which could be argued to constitute "fraud".

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

And in another 2011 study from the same UC Riverside team, the researchers found that men with wider faces were more likely act to immorally at work, were more likely to "explicitly deceive their counterparts in a negotiation" and were "more willing to cheat in order to increase their financial gain".

Huffington Post

Smith is saying, in effect, that when customers are likely to be deceived governments should provide consumer protection.

The New Yorker

They assume that they are most likely to be deceived by sellers -- particularly by people hawking counterfeit or broken merchandise.

The New York Times - Tech

It said that "investors are likely to be deceived if a company uses a 'pro forma' presentation to recast a loss as if it were a profit" unless there were "clear and comprehensible explanations" of what was being left out.

The New York Times

"A fake account that actually pretends to be the real person in order to deceive others likely violates the right of publicity in most states.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing potential risks or outcomes, use "likely to deceive" to convey a strong probability of misleading someone. For instance, "The marketing campaign was flagged as being "likely to deceive" customers about the product's true capabilities."

Common error

Avoid using "likely to deceive" when there's only a remote possibility of misleading someone. Instead, consider weaker terms like "potentially misleading" or "possibly confusing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely to deceive" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating a high probability or propensity for something to mislead or trick someone. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its usage in contexts ranging from consumer protection to assessing personal character.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely to deceive" serves to highlight a high probability of misleading or tricking someone. Grammatically correct and primarily found in News & Media, its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy, and while synonyms like "prone to mislead" or "apt to confuse" exist, "likely to deceive" effectively conveys a considerable risk of deception. Use it judiciously, ensuring the context warrants the assertion of a high probability of misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

liable to deceive

Indicates a legal or probable risk of deception.

prone to mislead

Focuses on a tendency or inclination to mislead.

apt to mislead

Emphasizes the natural tendency to mislead.

tending to deceive

Describes an ongoing inclination towards deception.

apt to confuse

Emphasizes the potential to cause confusion.

inclined to deceive

Highlights the willingness to deceive.

designed to deceive

Suggests the deception is purposeful.

calculated to deceive

Implies a deliberate intention to deceive.

predisposed to deceive

Highlights a pre-existing condition or vulnerability related to deception.

poised to deceive

Indicates readiness or imminence in deceiving.

FAQs

How can I use "likely to deceive" in a sentence?

You can use "likely to deceive" to describe something that has a high probability of misleading someone. For example, "The advertisement contained false information and was deemed "likely to deceive" the average consumer."

What are some alternatives to "likely to deceive"?

Alternatives include "prone to mislead", "apt to confuse", or "liable to deceive", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "likely to deceive" a formal or informal expression?

"Likely to deceive" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal or legal writing, you might prefer synonyms like "liable to deceive" or "calculated to deceive".

What's the difference between "likely to deceive" and "intending to deceive"?

"Likely to deceive" focuses on the probability of deception, regardless of intent. "Intending to deceive" implies a deliberate plan to mislead. Something can be "likely to deceive" even if there's no malicious intent, whereas "intending to deceive" always suggests a conscious effort to mislead.