deceiving
adj.adj. describing something that makes you believe something that is not true. It is often used when appearances are different from reality.
adj. tending to mislead or give a false impression. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem' to describe sensory perceptions.
The calm water is deceiving because the current is very strong.
The sunny weather was deceiving, as the temperature was actually well below freezing once we stepped outside.
While the initial data suggested a recovery, the figures proved deceiving once the analysts accounted for seasonal fluctuations and one-off government subsidies.
Often follows a linking verb; frequently used in the phrase 'appearances can be deceiving'.
The magician was deceiving us with his tricks.The magician was deceptive with his tricks.While 'deceiving' works as a participle, 'deceptive' is the preferred adjective for describing a person's character or a calculated intent to mislead.