deceptively

deceptively
de·cep·tive·ly (dĭ-sĕpʹtĭv-lē) adv.
In a deceptive or deceiving manner; so as to deceive.
 
Usage Note: When deceptively is used to modify an adjective, the meaning is often unclear. Does the sentence The pool is deceptively shallow mean that the pool is shallower or deeper than it appears? When the Usage Panel was asked to decide, 50 percent thought the pool shallower than it appears, 32 percent thought it deeper than it appears, and 18 percent said it was impossible to judge. Thus a warning notice worded in such a way would be misinterpreted by many of the people who read it, and others would be uncertain as to which sense was intended. Where the context does not make the meaning of deceptively clear, the sentence should be rewritten, as in The pool is shallower than it looks or The pool is shallow, despite its appearance.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • deceptively — 1. • His voice was deceptively innocent, and she was led right into the trap E. Rees, 1992. Was his voice innocent or not? The answer seems to be that the appearance was of innocence whereas the reality was of something more sinister, and… …   Modern English usage

  • deceptively — ► ADVERB 1) to a lesser extent than appears the case. 2) to a greater extent than appears the case. USAGE Beware of confusion when using deceptively, as it can mean both one thing and also its complete opposite. A deceptively smooth surface is… …   English terms dictionary

  • Deceptively — De*cep tive*ly, adv. In a manner to deceive. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deceptively — adverb 1》 to a lesser extent than appears the case: the idea was deceptively simple. 2》 to a greater extent than appears the case: the airy and deceptively spacious lounge. Usage Deceptively can be used in similar contexts to mean both one thing… …   English new terms dictionary

  • deceptively — adv. Deceptively is used with these adjectives: ↑casual, ↑easy, ↑gentle, ↑innocent, ↑mild, ↑simple, ↑smooth, ↑spacious, ↑steep, ↑straightforward …   Collocations dictionary

  • deceptively — de|cep|tive|ly [ dı septıvli ] adverb used for saying that something is different from how it appears: The house looks deceptively small from the outside (=but really it is big) …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • deceptively — UK [dɪˈseptɪvlɪ] / US adverb used for saying that something is different from how it appears The house looks deceptively small from the outside (= but really it is big) …   English dictionary

  • deceptively — adverb in a misleading way (Freq. 1) the exam looked deceptively easy • Syn: ↑deceivingly, ↑misleadingly • Derived from adjective: ↑misleading (for: ↑misleadingly) …   Useful english dictionary

  • deceptively — adverb see deceptive …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • deceptively — adverb In a deceptive manner …   Wiktionary

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