they have deceived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they have deceived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has misled or tricked another person or group in the past and the action has relevance to the present. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it became clear that they have deceived us about their true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

[He says] they have deceived Russia with Nato enlargement and they are undermining and humiliating Russia.

The Guardian

"As to my old opinions, I am heartily sick of them," he complained in the winter of 1823: They have deceived me sadly.

The New Yorker

Under Irish law an individual is considered a trafficker if he or she has "coerced, threatened, abducted or otherwise used force against the trafficked persons or if they have deceived or committed a fraud against them".

The Guardian

That evening, Pedro II wept and complained to Mariana de Verna, "They have deceived me, Dadama!" It took several hours to convince him that duty demanded that he proceed.

Wikipedia

"I feel like they have deceived us, and I have a feeling that they keep stalling and they are actually never going to set up a clinic," she said, later adding.

Huffington Post

For-profit colleges have reason to fear a bad result in this case: The industry has been receiving more than $30 billion a year in taxpayer funding to enroll students, and many of the big industry players are under investigation by law enforcement or already have paid fines to settle False Claims Act cases or other claims that they have deceived students and taxpayers.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But they've deceived us so much that the people simply couldn't take it any more.

The Guardian

He filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Mr Schrempp and his colleagues, claiming that they had deceived investors by billing the transaction as a merger of equals.

The Economist

Microsoft said yesterday that it had filed eight lawsuits against spammers, saying that they had deceived consumers and used false information to hide their tracks.

The New York Times

Mr. Hindelang sued Mr. Simon's company and the other investors, saying they had deceived him about their plan to add debt and eventually take Pacific Coin public.

The New York Times

I should not deflect what seems to be the course of practical and obvious justice in this case by resort to metaphysical speculations as to the effect of absence of the schemers from the courtroom when attorneys whom also they had deceived obtained the order from the Court.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance impact, follow "they have deceived" with the consequences of their actions, illustrating the harm caused by their deception.

Common error

Refrain from using "they have deceived" without providing concrete examples or evidence of the deceptive actions. Unsubstantiated claims can weaken your argument and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they have deceived" functions as a declarative statement, asserting that a group has performed a deceptive action. As Ludwig AI suggests, the action has relevance to the present moment. Examples provided by Ludwig show it being used in news reports, academic discussions, and general statements of fact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they have deceived" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that accuses a group of misleading or tricking others. Ludwig AI underscores that this phrase suggests the deceptive action continues to have relevance in the present. It is most frequently found in news and media, wiki pages, and academic texts. When employing the phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating who 'they' are and providing evidence of the deception to strengthen your statement. Be sure you avoid vague accusations without supporting evidence. Related phrases include "they have misled", "they have tricked" and "they have defrauded".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they have misled

Focuses on the act of leading someone astray without necessarily implying malicious intent.

they have tricked

Emphasizes the use of cunning or deceitful tactics to achieve a goal.

they have fooled

Suggests a successful deception where the target was easily tricked.

they have duped

Implies that someone was naive or gullible and easily tricked.

they have betrayed

Highlights the violation of trust and loyalty, often with significant emotional impact.

they have defrauded

Focuses on deception for financial gain or material advantage.

they have hoodwinked

Similar to "tricked", but suggests a more elaborate or cunning scheme.

they have manipulated

Emphasizes the control aspect of deception, where someone is subtly influenced to act against their own interests.

they have misrepresented

Focuses on presenting a false or distorted account of something.

they have cheated

Implies unfairness or dishonesty, often in a competitive situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "they have deceived" to express that a group or entity has misled or tricked others. For example: "The company's marketing tactics were misleading, and the investigation revealed that "they have deceived" their customers about the product's true capabilities."

What are some alternatives to saying "they have deceived"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they have misled", "they have tricked", or "they have defrauded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "they deceived" or "they have deceived"?

"They deceived" implies the deception happened at a specific point in the past, while "they have deceived" suggests the deception's impact continues to the present. Choose the tense that best reflects the ongoing relevance of the act.

What's the difference between "they have deceived" and "they were deceived"?

"They have deceived" means they actively misled someone. "They were deceived" means they were the recipients of deception. The first implies an active role, while the second implies a passive one.