fraudulent

comparative more fraudulent · superlative most fraudulent

1. Dishonest; based on fraud or deception.

   One writer gravely assures us that Maurice of Saxony learned all his fraudulent policy from that execrable volume [The Prince].

   1827, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Machiavelli”, in Critical and Historical Essays: Contributed to The Edinburgh Review, new edition, volume I, London: Printed for Longman et al., published 1850, page 28

   2 more examples

   Secondly, Philoſophy which we are warned not to take heed of : not that Philoſophy, which is true & ſound knowledge attained by naturall diſcourſe of reaſon ; but that Philoſophy which to bolſter hereſie or error, caſteth a fraudulent ſhew of reaſon vpon things which are indeed vnreaſonable, & by that meane as by a ſtratageme ſpoyleth the ſimple which are not able to withſtand ſuch cunning.

   1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, London: William Stansbye, published 1622, book III, page 98

   The only reaſon, why men are not always ſufficiently ſenſible of This ; ſo that Many, who are very Juſt in their Dealings between Man and Man, will yet be very fraudulent or rapacious with regard to the Publick ; is becauſe, in this latter caſe, ’tis not ſo obviouſly and immediately apparent uppon Whom the Injury falls, as it is in the caſe of Private Wrongs.

   a. 1729, Samuel Clarke, “The Reward of Justice”, in The Works of Samuel Clarke, volume II, London: J. and P. Knapton, published 1738, page 191

2. False, phony.

   He tried to pass a fraudulent check.