Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Deceitful, two-faced: Characterized by deliberate deception, especially by pretending to have one set of feelings, beliefs, or intentions while acting under the influence of another. It implies a fundamental dishonesty and a willingness to mislead others for personal gain or advantage.

Usage

The adjective "duplicitous" is used to describe a person, their behavior, or their nature. It is a formal and strong term of criticism, suggesting a calculated and morally reprehensible form of dishonesty. It often implies a betrayal of trust.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The politician's duplicitous nature was revealed when his private statements contradicted his public promises.
  • She grew tired of his duplicitous behavior, never knowing if he was being sincere.
  • A duplicitous character in the novel secretly worked for both rival families.

Advanced Usage

• "Duplicitous conduct/behavior": Actions that are intentionally deceptive.
  • The lawyer was disbarred for duplicitous conduct during the trial.
• "Proved to be duplicitous": Was revealed to be deceptive.
  • The ally proved to be duplicitous, sharing our secrets with the enemy.

Variants and Related Words

• Duplicity (n): The state or quality of being duplicitous; deceitfulness, double-dealing.
  • His duplicity eventually cost him all his friends.
• Duplicitously (adv): In a duplicitous manner.
  • He duplicitously agreed to the plan while secretly sabotaging it.

Synonyms

• Deceitful: Misleading others.
• Two-faced: Insincere and deceitful.
• Double-dealing: Cheating or betraying by acting in two contradictory ways.
• Hypocritical: Pretending to have virtues or beliefs that one does not actually possess.
• Perfidious: Disloyal, treacherous (a more literary synonym).

Antonyms

• Honest: Truthful and sincere.
• Forthright: Direct and straightforward.
• Guileless: Innocent and without deception.
• Sincere: Genuine in feeling or belief.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be two-faced: To be duplicitous. (This is a more common, informal equivalent).
  • I don't trust him; I think he's two-faced.
• To speak with a forked tongue: To lie or be deliberately deceptive. (Often used in a literary or historical context).
  • The ambassador was accused of speaking with a forked tongue.

Adjective

1. marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another
   • she was a deceitful scheming little thing- Israel Zangwill
   • a double-dealing double agent
   • a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer- W.M.Thackeray