Dupe

Part of Speech

Noun, Verb

Pronunciation

/duːp/ or /djuːp/

Definitions

• Noun: A person who is easily deceived or tricked.
• Verb: To deceive or trick someone into believing something false.

Usage Examples

• Noun: "He was an unsuspecting dupe in their elaborate fraud scheme."
• Verb: "Scammers often dupe people into sharing their personal information."

Etymology

From the French "dupe" meaning "deceived person," possibly from Old French "doper" (to deceive), related to Middle French "dupe" (simpleton).

Synonyms

• Noun: Victim, Gull, Pawn
• Verb: Trick, Deceive, Con

Antonyms

• Noun: Skeptic, Doubter
• Verb: Enlighten, Inform

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /djuːp/
• American English: /duːp/

Historical Usage

The term "dupe" has been used since the 17th century, often in relation to deception in politics, war, and fraud.

Cultural Nuances

In different cultures, being a "dupe" carries varying levels of stigma. In some, being too trusting is seen as a virtue, while in others, it is viewed as a weakness.

More Information

The word "dupe" is commonly used in cybersecurity and fraud prevention. With the rise of phishing scams, individuals are often warned not to be "duped" by deceptive emails and messages.