Vocabulary buffs: What's the word for this?
November 30, 2013 9:09 AM Subscribe
What's a word that means you say things to make people believe your intent or mindset is different than it is in order to harm them later without them suspecting you? For example, you might mention in discussion how much stealing disgusts you so that they won't suspect you later when you steal from them.
I suppose that the "harming" part may not be necessary, but just the part about you making them unsuspecting of some sort of action you're planning to commit.
Others have suggested misleading, manipulating, conniving, deception, beguiling, and duplicity, but these seem to be missing the important aspect of intent to commit an act in the future that you don't want to be suspected of. They're more or less just different ways to say "lying" without any content about the reason for lying.
This word might not exist, but I swear it does and it's driving me crazy trying to remember it.
Whoever knows gets as much leftover Thanksgiving pie as they want.
I suppose that the "harming" part may not be necessary, but just the part about you making them unsuspecting of some sort of action you're planning to commit.
Others have suggested misleading, manipulating, conniving, deception, beguiling, and duplicity, but these seem to be missing the important aspect of intent to commit an act in the future that you don't want to be suspected of. They're more or less just different ways to say "lying" without any content about the reason for lying.
This word might not exist, but I swear it does and it's driving me crazy trying to remember it.
Whoever knows gets as much leftover Thanksgiving pie as they want.
disingenous
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:13 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:13 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dissemble?
posted by Wordwoman at 9:17 AM on November 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Wordwoman at 9:17 AM on November 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Cheat.
Con. Scam. To sell a bill of goods. Trick. Manipulate. Dupe. Rip off.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:18 AM on November 30, 2013
Con. Scam. To sell a bill of goods. Trick. Manipulate. Dupe. Rip off.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:18 AM on November 30, 2013
To sucker one into ___.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:19 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:19 AM on November 30, 2013
Swindle.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:21 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:21 AM on November 30, 2013
You're creating a false ethos that you'll use to serve some hidden agenda or ulterior motive. It's similar to misdirection, or using something as a smokescreen or even a stalking horse.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:22 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:22 AM on November 30, 2013
Defraud. Play a shell game, confidence game, or bunko game.
Hornswoggle. Bamboozle.
Cozen.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
Hornswoggle. Bamboozle.
Cozen.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
Keep the pie, I have no need for it [he schemed].
posted by 0 answers at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by 0 answers at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
Leading someone on.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2013
Not just one word but . . .
Intentional misrepresentation
or
Preying on suggestibility
posted by kbar1 at 9:28 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Intentional misrepresentation
or
Preying on suggestibility
posted by kbar1 at 9:28 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, and you said, Defenestrator that "conniving" lacks the "intent to commit an act in the future", but a definition of it is: 2. To scheme; plot.
0 answers's scheme works pretty well too.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:30 AM on November 30, 2013
0 answers's scheme works pretty well too.
posted by Jacob Knitig at 9:30 AM on November 30, 2013
Subvert? Subversive?
posted by fiercekitten at 9:31 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by fiercekitten at 9:31 AM on November 30, 2013
Legerdemain.
posted by Lieber Frau at 9:34 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by Lieber Frau at 9:34 AM on November 30, 2013
Mislead.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:44 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MuffinMan at 9:44 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Misdirection
posted by synecdoche at 9:53 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by synecdoche at 9:53 AM on November 30, 2013
The modern usage of "false flag" seems to fit.
posted by elizardbits at 9:54 AM on November 30, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 9:54 AM on November 30, 2013
"Laying the groundwork" or a "long con" are also kind of in the neighborhood.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:02 AM on November 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:02 AM on November 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Misdirection is the best of the above, I think.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:23 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:23 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Snow
Snooker
Hoodwink
Dupe
Set up
If you tell us *how* the person is "laying the groundwork" for his con, that might help, because there are lots of words specifically for, say, sweet-talking somebody, as opposed to "pulling the wool over their eyes" in different ways.
posted by rue72 at 10:25 AM on November 30, 2013
Snooker
Hoodwink
Dupe
Set up
If you tell us *how* the person is "laying the groundwork" for his con, that might help, because there are lots of words specifically for, say, sweet-talking somebody, as opposed to "pulling the wool over their eyes" in different ways.
posted by rue72 at 10:25 AM on November 30, 2013
A person espousing beliefs they don't really hold is being disingenuous. That's the word I'd use for this situation.
And "Gyp" is really offensive, don't use that one.
posted by shelleycat at 10:26 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
And "Gyp" is really offensive, don't use that one.
posted by shelleycat at 10:26 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Guile?
posted by deathpanels at 10:33 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by deathpanels at 10:33 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Feinting.
posted by ignignokt at 10:57 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ignignokt at 10:57 AM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dissemble I think would be my pick.
posted by Sebmojo at 1:29 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 1:29 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Lulling - to lull someone.
posted by forgetful snow at 1:48 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by forgetful snow at 1:48 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Obfuscation?
posted by Fortnight Bender at 4:17 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Fortnight Bender at 4:17 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Planned disingenuity" I think conveys what you mean as a phrase.
posted by viggorlijah at 11:16 PM on November 30, 2013
posted by viggorlijah at 11:16 PM on November 30, 2013
Another vote for dissemble:
say things to make people believe your intent or mindset is different than it is in order to harm them later
posted by Room 641-A at 8:20 AM on December 1, 2013
verb: conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs.I think that "concealing one's true motives" speaks to this:
say things to make people believe your intent or mindset is different than it is in order to harm them later
posted by Room 641-A at 8:20 AM on December 1, 2013
Response by poster: None of these were perfect but that just tells me the word doesn't really exist in as specific a way as I was imagining. Thank you all for your help!
posted by Defenestrator at 7:25 AM on December 10, 2013
posted by Defenestrator at 7:25 AM on December 10, 2013
Dissemble is exactly the word you are looking for. It means 'mis-seem' and carries that sense of pretending for an ulterior reason.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:27 PM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 3:27 PM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rtha at 9:12 AM on November 30, 2013 [6 favorites]