Duplicitous

Given to, marked by, or characterized by deception and double-dealing; presenting one set of truths to some people and a different set to others.

adjective

Duplicitous

Given to, marked by, or characterized by deception and double-dealing; presenting one set of truths to some people and a different set to others.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a politician who tells voters in one city one version of a policy, then tells a different version to supporters in another city, as if wearing two masks. That contrast in stories is duplicitous.

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Sounds Like

doo-PLIS-i-tuhs

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Looks Like

Looks like related words such as duplicate or duplicity (root dupli- for double).

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Remember This

The root 'dupli-' means double; duplicity (the noun) is the practice of being double-dealing, and duplicitous is the adjective describing that behavior.

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Other Forms

duplicitousnessnoun

duplicitouslyadverb

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Connect With

duplicity, deceit, two-faced, hypocritical, deceitful, double-dealing

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Note

Duplicitous emphasizes intentional and systematic deceit (two-facedness). It is stronger than simply 'deceptive' and often implies contradictory statements or hidden agendas. Do not confuse with 'duplicit' (obsolete) or with 'duplicated' (copied).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The senator's duplicitous statements earned him a reputation for promising one thing to constituents while planning something else in secret.
A duplicitous employer claimed to value employee welfare but cut health benefits without notice.

Synonyms

deceitfultwo-faceddishonestdeviousfraudulenthypocritical

Antonyms

honestsincereforthrighttransparent

Etymology

From Latin duplicitas 'doubleness, deceit' from duplicus 'double'; via Old French duplicité to English duplicity, with the suffix -ous forming the adjective.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: Double-dealings. Duplicitous = someone who engages in double dealings (two-faced deception).