double-dealing 1 of 2

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as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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double-dealing

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun double-dealing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of double-dealing are deception, fraud, subterfuge, and trickery. While all these words mean "the acts or practices of one who deliberately deceives," double-dealing suggests treachery or at least action contrary to a professed attitude.

a go-between suspected of double-dealing

When might deception be a better fit than double-dealing?

The meanings of deception and double-dealing largely overlap; however, deception may or may not imply blameworthiness, since it may suggest cheating or merely tactical resource.

magicians are masters of deception

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than double-dealing?

While in some cases nearly identical to double-dealing, fraud always implies guilt and often criminality in act or practice.

indicted for fraud

When could subterfuge be used to replace double-dealing?

The synonyms subterfuge and double-dealing are sometimes interchangeable, but subterfuge suggests the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.

obtained the papers by subterfuge

When would trickery be a good substitute for double-dealing?

In some situations, the words trickery and double-dealing are roughly equivalent. However, trickery implies ingenious acts intended to dupe or cheat.

resorted to trickery to gain their ends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of double-dealing
Noun
Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love. Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 Making his Broadway debut, Burr is a cyclone as the fast-talking, double-dealing Dave Moss, who springs a plan to steal the leads on his unwilling accomplice, George Aaronow (McKean, drolly exasperated). Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 Mullen's righthand man, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), was double-dealing with billionaire Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg), who ultimately ordered a hit on him in Episode 4. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025 Through his double-dealing with the government, Carmine Falcone was Gotham’s top crime boss for over two decades, accruing massive wealth, political influence, and an elite status. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024 While the Biden Administration seems to perceive Cambodia as an amenable partner, Manet is double-dealing Beijing and Washington. Sam Rainsy, TIME, 24 June 2024 Downey’s performance, equal parts subtly scented aftershave and snake oil, is a double-dealing marvel. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 July 2023 Having a computer be the antagonistic heart of the film instead of a human baddie is a huge swing, though, and consequently this first of a two-part story line faces some narrative obstacles amid the usual face-swapping, double-dealing spycraft. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 July 2023 Dive into these series for the thrill of family backstabbing, corporate double-dealing or simply for the maladjusted — and wealthy and/or powerful — bringing out the worst in one another, typically (except for a few aspirational exceptions). Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-dealing
Adjective
  • Any email platform is exposed to this kind of attack, with scammers using fraudulent alerts and malicious links to entrap victims.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Affected individuals may be vulnerable to identity theft, fraudulent account openings and targeted phishing attempts.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In the fifth, Bregman hit another two-run double, scoring Rafaela and Devers, to give the Red Sox a 4-1 lead.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Two more were plated on a sacrifice fly from Edman and an off-the-wall double from Smith.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Battering ram with deceptive speed (4.51), but struggles catching the ball.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to his first-term tariffs, Trump also filed a formal World Trade Organization case against China, alleging deceptive trade practices and intellectual property theft.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In another case, Balmer pleaded guilty in 2016 to forgery and theft by deception charges, court documents show.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Imposter syndrome is an internal struggle with feeling like a fraud despite being qualified, whereas career catfishing is an active deception.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The cruelty of his dishonest sham, founded on disdain for the autistic community and aimed at parents of autistic children, defies decency.
    Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder.
    Clementina Chery, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Fooling the government about your fake relationship is one thing, but fooling your family is a whole other challenge of its own.
    Toubee Yang, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
  • Expect more fake eggs made of colored marshmallows or even potatoes on this year’s Easter spread With egg prices stubbornly high, the internet has offered up a host of alternatives, with crafters painting rocks and influencers dyeing everything from marshmallows to potatoes.
    William Lambers, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The mood shifts from shady to straight-up scandalous.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, Fenix lost the biggest match of his young WWE career, albeit under shady circumstances, while Americano picked up a WrestleMania win.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The deceit and deception is positively intoxicating to this longtime reality competition fan.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The campaign registers domains that are close enough to legitimate websites to trick users into clicking, or at least to stop them flagging the deceit.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Double-dealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-dealing. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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