How to say "deceive" in Japanese

• 騙すだますJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the everyday sense of deceiving someone by trickery or cheating them, including swindling. The default choice for 'deceive' in ordinary contexts, from playful pranks to serious fraud.
  私は彼女かのじょの約束やくそくにだまされた。↗

  I was taken in by her promise.
• ごまかすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbDeceiving by glossing over, fudging, or being evasive rather than by outright lies — cheating on expenses, doctoring figures, or covering up a mistake. Written in kana alone.
  そんな手てで私の目めをごまかそうとしても無駄むだだ。↗

  You can't fool me with a trick like that.
• 欺くあざむくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo deceive, delude, or trick someone deliberately, with a somewhat literary or forceful feel. Used for misleading people's eyes, judgment, or expectations through calculated deception.
  私をあざむこうとしてもむだです。↗

  It is no use trying to deceive me.
• 惑わすまどわすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core senses are to bewilder, perplex, and puzzle; 'delude' extends this to leading someone astray or misleading their judgment. For plain 'deceive' it is only a marginal fit.
  流言りゅうげん飛語ひごに惑まどわされるべからず、とはいうものの、言ゆうは易やすく行おこなうは難がたし、と思おもわない？↗

  They say you shouldn't take rumors seriously, but that's easier said than done.
• 偽るいつわるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbTo deceive by misrepresenting or making something false — pretending, lying about identity, or faking. Best when the deception rests on falsehood rather than on trickery alone.

Choose 「騙す」 for tricking or cheating someone, 「ごまかす」 for deceiving through evasiveness or fudging, 「欺く」 for deliberate deception, 「偽る」 for falsehood and misrepresentation, and 「惑わす」 mainly for misleading or deluding.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 騙すだますto trick
• ごまかすto deceive
• 欺くあざむくto deceive
• 惑わすまどわすto bewilder
• 言いくるめるいいくるめるto deceive (with words)
• 騙し込むだましこむto deceive
• 目をくらますめをくらますto deceive
• たぶらかすto trick
• たらしこむto cajole
• だまくらかすto trick
• まやかすto cheat
• 一杯食わすいっぱいくわすto play a trick on
• ペテンに掛けるペテンにかけるto swindle
• 一杯食わせるいっぱいくわせるto play a trick on
• だまかすto trick
• たばかるto work out a plan of deception
• 偽るいつわるto deceive
• 担ぐかつぐto take (someone) for a ride
• かすめるto deceive
• はめ込むはめこむto entrap
• くらますto deceive
• たらすto deceive
• してやるto take in
• 乗せるのせるto deceive
• 図るはかるto deceive
• 食わすくわすto deceive
• はめるto entrap
• 食わせるくわせるto deceive
• 落とし込むおとしこむto entice