What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cheat
Example
He cheated on the test by looking at his neighbor's paper. [cheated: past tense]
Example
She felt cheated when she found out he had been lying to her. [cheated: verb]
deceive
Example
He deceived his friends into thinking he had won the lottery. [deceived: past tense]
Example
She didn't realize he was deceiving her with his false promises. [deceiving: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cheat is more commonly used than deceive in everyday language. Cheat is a versatile word that can be applied to different contexts, while deceive is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cheat and deceive?
Both cheat and deceive can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, deceive may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its association with manipulation and deceit.
