Word: dupe (noun, verb)

Associations

The word "dupe" can be both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, "dupe" means a person who is easily tricked or fooled. As a verb, "to dupe" means to trick or deceive someone.

Examples as a noun:

• He was a dupe in the scam and lost a lot of money. (Here, "dupe" means a person who was tricked.)
• Don’t be a dupe; check all the facts before believing the story.

Examples as a verb:

• They duped him into signing the contract without reading it.
• The advertisement duped many customers by promising something false.

Synonym: "trick" Difference: "Trick" is more general and can be a noun or verb too, but "dupe" often emphasizes that the person was easily fooled or naive.

Substitution

Instead of "dupe" (noun), you can say:

• victim (someone who is harmed or tricked)
• fool (someone who is easily deceived)

Instead of "dupe" (verb), you can say:

• deceive
• trick
• fool

Changing the word can make the sentence sound more formal or informal. For example, "deceive" sounds more formal than "dupe."

Deconstruction

The word "dupe" comes from French "duper," meaning "to deceive." It is short and simple, easy to remember because it sounds like "dupe" meaning "to fool."

No prefixes or suffixes here; it's a root word borrowed from another language.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone tried to dupe you or someone you know?
• How do you feel when you realize you have been duped?
• What are some ways to avoid being a dupe in tricky situations?