4 syllables: Du, pli, cit, ous. Stress on pli.
doo-PLIS-it-uhs
/duˈplɪsɪtəs/
Duplicitous is pronounced doo-PLIS-it-uhs (/duˈplɪsɪtəs/). It has four syllables (Du-pli-cit-ous), with the stress on "pli". Duplicitous is an adjective describing someone who deceives or acts with deceit, especially by pretending to have a certain motive or loyalty. It implies deliberate misrepresentation or double-dealing. The term carries a formal, somewhat negative connotation and is often used in analytical or literary contexts to critique dishonesty.
adjectiveDuplicitous is an adjective describing someone who deceives or acts with deceit, especially by pretending to have a certain motive or loyalty. It implies deliberate misrepresentation or double-dealing. The term carries a formal, somewhat negative connotation and is often used in analytical or literary contexts to critique dishonesty.
How to Pronounce Duplicitous
"The politician’s duplicitous statements made voters question his integrity."
"Her duplicitous behavior finally came to light when she betrayed her ally."
"The detective suspected the twin brothers’ duplicitous alibis would not hold up under scrutiny."
Break it as djuː-PLIS-i-təs, stressing the second syllable. The initial 'du' sounds like 'dew' with a 'y' glide: /djuː/. The middle 'pli' is a short, crisp /plɪ/. End with /təs/. Overall: /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/. Keep the stress on the penultimate syllable: PLIS.
Common errors: (1) Flattening the vowel in the first syllable, yielding /duːˈplɪsɪtəs/ instead of /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/. Keep the /j/ sound after d to produce /djuː/ rather than /duː/. (2) Slurring the -ous ending, saying /-əs/ too weakly; pronounce final /əs/ clearly: /-ətəs/ with a schwa followed by /təs/. (3) Misplacing stress, placing it on the last syllable; ensure primary stress on /ˈplɪs/.
US/UK/AU share /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/, but rhotics differ: US is rhotic, so you hear /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/ with clear r? Actually duplicitous has no rhotic vowel; the rhotic influence is minimal. Vowel quality: US often keeps /uː/ as a longer diphthong /uː/ or /juː/; UK tends to slightly clipped /uː/ after /d/, Australian tends toward a broad fronted /juː/ with less rounding. The main variation is in the onset glide sequencing and the vowel duration before /ɪ/. Overall: the form /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/ remains, with minor vowel length and consonant release differences.
Difficulties come from the initial /dj/ cluster producing a y-glide into /djuː/, the unstressed, quick /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and the final /təs/ cluster where the t lands before a weak schwa. People often misplace stress to /ˈduːplɪsɪtəs/ or drop the /j/ glide. Also, the sequence /plɪ/ blends quickly if you don’t separate the plosive and short i; practice with deliberate tongue movement and pauses.
Note the subtle /juː/ onset after /d/ creates a smooth y-glide; keep the /j/ phoneme as a separate glide rather than merging into /i/. Also ensure the /t/ is released clearly before the final /əs/; many speakers devoice the /t/ or turn it into a flap. A precise articulation of /plɪ/ with a short, crisp /ɪ/ helps avoid an overly long middle vowel.
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Duplicitous comes from Latin duplicitus, meaning 'folded double, deceitful,' from duplicis 'double' + -cit-, a root related to capere 'to take' in various Latin compounds. The English word duplicitous appeared by the 15th-17th centuries, initially in moral or political contexts to describe double-dealing or treachery. It derives from duplicity, which itself traces to Latin duplicitas, formed from duplic-, 'double' + -itas, a noun-forming suffix denoting a state or condition. Over time, the sense sharpened to describe deliberate deception and sly concealment of true intentions, rather than mere inconsistency. In modern usage, duplicitous retains a formal, critical tone and is frequently found in analysis, journalism, and literature to label insincerity that involves something kept hidden or misrepresented for strategic gain. The word's pronunciation shifted with English phonology, but its core meaning anchored in 'two faces'—the hallmark of deceit—remains constant from its earliest attestations to today.
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Words that rhyme with "Duplicitous"
-ous sounds
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