What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bluffed
Example
He bluffed his way through the interview, pretending to be knowledgeable about the subject. [bluffed: past tense]
Example
The politician bluffed about his accomplishments to gain support from the voters. [bluffed: verb]
dupe
Example
She realized she had been duped into buying a fake product. [duped: past tense]
Example
The scam artist managed to dupe many people with his convincing lies. [dupe: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bluffed is less common than dupe in everyday language. Dupe is a more widely used term to describe someone who has been deceived or tricked, while bluffed is more specific to situations where someone is intentionally pretending or making false claims.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bluffed and dupe?
Both bluffed and dupe can be used in informal contexts. However, bluffed may be more commonly used in casual conversations or in the context of games, while dupe can be used in both formal and informal situations to describe someone who has been fooled or manipulated.