dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.
a swindle usually involves two dishonest people
deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.
the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse
mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.
mendacious tales of adventure
untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.
an untruthful account of their actions
Example Sentences
charged the store owner with such deceitful practices as inflating the list prices for items only so he could put them on sale at drastically reduced prices the deceitful salesman neglected to mention some important information about the used car
Recent Examples on the WebEverything about the littoral seemed deceitful, untrustworthy. Henry Wismayer, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 Everything about the littoral seemed deceitful, untrustworthy. Henry Wismayer, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Evie ultimately survives the trap she’d been placed in by Oliver, but the response from early test screenings wanted more of a comeuppance for her deceitful cousin. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2022 The sit-down has since been discredited after it was found that deceitful methods were used to secure the interview with Diana. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, is speaking out again about the deceitful methods used by BBC journalist Martin Bashir to secure a bombshell interview with Diana. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 The book’s second half focuses on a boy named Mark who grows into a deceitful teenage addict and clubgoer.New York Times, 27 July 2022 The Dyson report also found that Bashir used deceitful methods to gain access to Princess Diana, including allegedly forging documents. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 July 2022 So strong are the negative associations that the word itself has become a pejorative for someone deceitful or disloyal. Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 8 July 2022 See More