What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
beguile
Example
The magician beguiled the audience with his amazing tricks. [beguiled: past tense]
Example
Her smile and charisma beguiled everyone at the party. [beguiled: verb]
deceive
Example
He deceived his friend by pretending to be someone else online. [deceived: past tense]
Example
She felt deceived when she found out the truth about his intentions. [deceived: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deceive is more commonly used than beguile in everyday language. Deceive is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while beguile is less common and often used in more specific situations where charm or enchantment is involved.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between beguile and deceive?
While beguile is typically associated with a more formal or literary tone, deceive can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
