looks can be deceiving

proverb

A person, place, thing, or situation can be very different from how it seems or appears to be at first glance.

“This algebra problem may look very easy at first glance, but looks can be deceiving.”

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Meanings

proverb
  1. A person, place, thing, or situation can be very different from how it seems or appears to be at first glance.

    This algebra problem may look very easy at first glance, but looks can be deceiving.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
all that glitters is not goldappearances are deceptiveyou can't judge a book by its cover
Cite this entry
APA

looks can be deceiving. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/looks%20can%20be%20deceiving

MLA

“looks can be deceiving.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/looks%20can%20be%20deceiving. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “looks can be deceiving,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/looks%20can%20be%20deceiving.

Source: looks can be deceiving on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.