Duplicitousness

Duplicitousness refers to the quality of being deceitful, two-faced, and intentionally misleading in speech or conduct. It describes a character trait where an individual deliberately hides their true feelings, intentions, or actions, often to gain an advantage or manipulate others. The core of duplicitousness lies in a conscious effort to create a false impression, fostering distrust and undermining genuine relationships. It encompasses acts of deception, dishonesty, and insincerity, where a person presents a facade that masks their real self or hidden agenda. This behavior aims to exploit the naivete of others or avoid accountability for their actions.

Duplicitousness meaning with examples

• Her duplicitousness was evident in her constant praising of the project, while privately undermining it with gossip and negativity. Her colleagues were taken aback by her sudden shift in position during the meeting, displaying a clear lack of transparency in her behavior. Her actions slowly eroded the trust of her team, who felt deceived by her double dealings and hidden motives, impacting team morale.
• The politician's duplicitousness was exposed when secret recordings revealed his contradictory statements on policy, creating outrage among voters. He carefully cultivated an image of honesty, while secretly accepting bribes from corporations with an interest in influencing his political decisions, a move that undermined public trust. His deceptive tactics highlighted the ethical concerns surrounding his leadership.
• The spy's duplicitousness allowed them to gain the confidence of their targets, creating a false sense of loyalty. They skillfully crafted a persona that allowed them to extract sensitive information, using deception to manipulate those around them. Their actions were a constant barrage of lies, carefully crafted to deceive their targets.
• In the business world, duplicitousness can manifest through misleading advertising. One company that had made claims of a 'money-back guarantee' would be exposed, later to be revealed that the details of the 'guarantee' were confusing, and nearly impossible to claim, exposing their intent. The company's intent was to attract customers using deceit.
• The manipulative friend's duplicitousness was on display as she pretended to be supportive. In reality she was creating problems with other friends and undermining their work. Her true colors were exposed as her actions resulted in division within the group. She was always creating an image of selflessness, while working against the best interests of others.