What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
con
Example
The salesman tried to con me into buying a faulty product. [con: verb]
Example
He was a con artist who made a living by tricking people out of their money. [con: noun]
deceive
Example
She deceived her friend by pretending to be someone else online. [deceive: verb]
Example
The politician was accused of deceiving the public about his true intentions. [deceiving: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deceive is more commonly used than con in everyday language. Con is more specific and informal, while deceive is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between con and deceive?
Deceive is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while con is more informal and may not be appropriate for formal situations.
