GRE Words for Dishonesty and Deception

These 12 GRE words all share the meaning of dishonesty and deception. Studying them as one cluster is far more efficient than learning each in isolation, because the GRE tests words by how they relate to each other. Each entry below links to a full definition page with example sentences and memory hooks.

Why this cluster matters

On Sentence Equivalence you must choose two words that give the sentence the same meaning. That means the answer is almost always a synonym pair pulled from a cluster like this one. Watch the connotation tone on each word: a positive and a negative word rarely form a correct pair, even when their definitions look close.

The 12 words

artificenounNegative tone

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially to deceive; trickery

chicanerynounNegative tone

The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose

disingenuousadjectiveNegative tone

Not candid or sincere; pretending to know less than one does

dissembleverbNegative tone

To conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to feign

duplicitynounNegative tone

Deceitfulness; double-dealing

equivocateverbNegative tone

To use ambiguous language to avoid committing to a position; to be deliberately vague

guilenounNegative tone

Sly or cunning intelligence; craftiness in deceiving others

insidiousadjectiveNegative tone

Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way with harmful effects

mendacitynounNegative tone

Untruthfulness; the tendency to lie

perfidynounNegative tone

Deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery

prevaricateverbNegative tone

To speak or act evasively; to avoid telling the truth

subterfugenounNegative tone

Deceit used to achieve one's goal; a trick

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