Deceptive Behavior

verb to coax or influence someone by using flattery or compliments

• The politician tried to blandish the voters with promises of lower taxes.
• She always tries to blandish her way into getting what she wants.
• Stop blandishing me, I know you're just trying to butter me up.
• His words were like a sweet melody, designed to blandish her into forgiving him.

noun the act of persuading or leading someone into doing something by deception or flattery

• The salesman's inveiglement tactics were transparent to the discerning customer.
• She tried to inveigle me into going shopping with her, but I declined.
• He used his smooth talking skills to inveigle his way into getting a discount.
• The politician's inveiglement of the public was met with skepticism and scrutiny.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, especially in being cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous in politics.

• The politician's Machiavellian tactics were evident in his manipulation of public opinion.
• I don't trust him, he's always playing these Machiavellian games.
• She's so Machiavellian, always scheming behind everyone's back.
• The CEO's Machiavellian approach to business was like a chess master moving pieces on a board.

noun a person who pretends to be ill or incapacitated in order to avoid work or duty

• The doctor suspected the patient of being a malingerer due to inconsistent symptoms.
• I think he's just a malingerer trying to get out of work.
• Don't believe her excuses, she's just a malingerer.
• His habit of procrastination made him a malingerer of his own success.

noun a series of actions or behavior intended to deceive or evade someone

verb to deceive or evade someone by giving them the runaround

• The company's runaround tactics made it difficult to get a straight answer.
• I'm tired of getting the runaround from customer service.
• Stop giving me the runaround and just tell me the truth.
• She felt like she was running in circles, caught in a never-ending runaround.

adjective deceitful or evasive in character or behavior; untrustworthy

• The suspect had a shifty demeanor during the police interrogation.
• I don't trust him, he seems a bit shifty.
• That guy gives me the creeps, he's so shifty.
• Her eyes darted around the room, giving off a shifty vibe.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• He tried to squirm out of taking responsibility for the mistake.
• She always tries to squirm out of doing her chores.
• He's always looking for ways to squirm out of paying his share.
• The politician tried to squirm out of answering the tough questions during the debate.

adjective a term used to describe actions or behavior that is deceitful, dishonest, or unethical

• His underhanded tactics were exposed during the investigation.
• I can't believe he resorted to such underhanded methods to win the game.
• She pulled off the heist using some seriously underhanded moves.
• His underhanded behavior left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.