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noun

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quackery - Deceptive or dishonest practices, particularly in fields such as health, medicine, or business, that are designed to exploit others.

The doctor was exposed for his quackery, selling false cures that he claimed could heal any disease.

verb

See noun

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fink - Inform on to the authorities

Mary finked on her brother when their parents asked which one of them took a cookie out of the jar.

verb

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downplay - To make something seem less important than it really is.

The government downplayed the water crisis, but when the water levels fell too much, they told people to try to use less water.

noun

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charlatan - A person who falsely pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people

The man selling snake oil claimed it would cure all diseases, but Harvey knew the man was just a charlatan.

noun

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masquerade - Behavior that is intended to deceive.

Bill was a total narcissist, and his girlfriends eventually found out that his charm and good humor was just a masquerade, and all he wanted was to take.

verb

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deceive - To mislead or trick someone, especially for personal gain.

Don’t try to deceive me — I know what really happened.

noun

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hypocrisy - Behavior that is the opposite of how one actually is, being fake by pretending to be one thing, and acting in the opposite way.

The politician was guilty of hypocrisy because he promised reforms, but his real goal was to enrich himself and his friends.

verb

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debase - To reduce the quality or value of something

When the government added copper to the gold coins, it debased the value of the coins.

verb

See noun

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bluff - Try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions

Tim had a bad poker hand but decided to bluff and bet all of his chips at once.

verb

See noun

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scheme - Make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong

The family butler was always polite, but in his mind he was always scheming how to steal the family's jewels.

adjective

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clandestine - Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit

CIA agents have to act in a clandestine manner to avoid detection.

noun

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shenanigans - Secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering

Because of Wall Street's shenanigans, the American economy collapsed in 2008.