What does deceivable mean?
Deceivable is a formal adjective describing someone or something that is capable of being deceived—that is, susceptible to being misled by lies, tricks, or false appearances. It derives from the verb 'deceive,' which comes from the Latin 'decipere,' meaning to ensnare or take in. The word is comparatively rare in contemporary usage, where speakers typically prefer 'gullible,' 'credulous,' or the phrase 'easily fooled.' When it does appear, it tends to carry a literary or archaic flavor and often implies a degree of vulnerability rather than stupidity: a person may be deceivable in matters of love, finance, or faith without lacking intelligence generally. A well-known instance occurs in the King James Bible (2 Thessalonians 2:10), which speaks of the 'deceivableness of unrighteousness.' Related forms include 'deceivability' and 'undeceivable,' meaning impossible to fool.
adjectiveCapable of being deceived; liable or open to being misled.
- Capable of being deceived; easily misled.
"Even the most careful investor is deceivable when the fraudster seems trustworthy."
"The con artist preyed on the deceivable and the desperate alike."
"He was not so deceivable as to believe every offer that landed in his inbox."
In the King James Bible, 'deceivableness of unrighteousness' warns that wickedness itself can be seductively persuasive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deceivable
Deceivable comes from the verb 'deceive,' borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'deceivre,' itself from Latin 'decipere'—to catch, ensnare, or beguile—a compound of 'de-' and 'capere' (to take). The adjective formed with the suffix '-able' and has been attested since at least the late Middle Ages. It shares its Latin root with 'deception,' 'deceit,' 'deceptive,' and 'conceive' and 'receive,' which also descend from 'capere.'
Related word forms
How deceivable is actually used
'Deceivable' is relatively rare in modern English and carries a formal, somewhat literary tone; in everyday speech 'gullible' or 'easily deceived' is far more common. It appears most often in older texts and religious writing.
Easily confused with deceivable
'Deceptive' describes something that misleads others, while 'deceivable' describes someone who can be misled.
'Deceitful' refers to a person or thing inclined to lie or cheat, whereas 'deceivable' refers to one capable of being deceived.