Basic Details
Word: Deceived
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Made someone believe something that is not true, usually to get an advantage.
Synonyms: tricked, fooled, misled, cheated
How to Spell Deceived
Syllables: de - ceived
Tricky part: After c the letters are ei, not ie, so decieved is the usual mistake. The c also sounds like s, which leads to desieved.
Watch out for: decieved, deceeved, desieved
Memory tip: The old rule works here: i before e except after c. Deceive belongs with receive and ceiling.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The fake website deceived many people into sharing their bank details.
Example 2: Don't be deceived by his calm face; he is nervous inside.
Example 3: The magician deceived the audience with three cups and a coin.
Fun Fact
Some animals deceive to survive: the harmless milk snake has red, black and yellow bands that look like those of the deadly coral snake.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The salesman decieved the old farmer by selling him a pump that had stopped working long before it left the shop.
a) salesman
b) farmer
c) decieved
d) working
Show answer
c) decieved. After the letter c, this word takes e first and then i.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word deceived as used in the sentence:
The painted backdrop deceived the audience into thinking the actors stood in a real forest.
a) thanked
b) warned
c) ignored
d) tricked
Show answer
d) tricked. The audience believed something untrue, which is what being tricked means.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The lifelike drawing of a fish vcedeedi even our cat.
a) derived
b) deceived
c) received
d) decided
Show answer
b) deceived. Received and derived both need an r, and decided has no v, which leaves deceived.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which noun goes with the verb deceive?
a) decimal
b) decency
c) deceit
d) decade
Show answer
c) deceit
2. A person who is easily deceived is ____.
a) punctual
b) sleepy
c) gullible
d) brilliant
Show answer
c) gullible
