When we describe someone as untrustworthy, we often look for strong comparisons to show how unreliable, deceptive, or dishonest they are. Using similes for untrustworthy, we can compare them to things known for trickery, instability, or deceit.
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as” to create a clear image. For example, saying someone is “as slippery as an eel” suggests they are sneaky and hard to pin down.
In this article, we’ll explore 32 powerful similes for untrustworthy individuals, explaining their meanings and giving practical examples.
Similes for Untrustworthy Examples
1. As slippery as an eel
Meaning: Hard to hold onto or trust, often because of deceitful behavior.
Example Sentences:
- “His promises were as slippery as an eel, always slipping away when I needed them most.”
- “She’s as slippery as an eel, dodging every question I ask her.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As elusive as smoke. 🌫️
- As deceitful as a shadow. 🌑
2. As unreliable as a broken clock
Meaning: Someone who can’t be counted on, just like a clock that doesn’t work.
Example Sentences:
- “You’re as unreliable as a broken clock, always showing up late or not at all.”
- “His words are as unreliable as a broken clock; they never match the truth.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As inconsistent as a faulty compass. 🧭
- As erratic as a malfunctioning car. 🚗
3. As deceptive as a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Appears harmless but is actually dangerous or dishonest.
Example Sentences:
- “He was as deceptive as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be my friend while plotting against me.”
- “She’s as deceptive as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hiding her true intentions behind a smile.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As fake as a mirage. 🌵
- As treacherous as a fox. 🦊
4. As fickle as the wind
Meaning: Someone who changes their mind or actions unpredictably.
Example Sentences:
- “His loyalty is as fickle as the wind, always shifting with the breeze.”
- “Her opinions are as fickle as the wind; they change with every passing day.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As unstable as a kite in a storm. 🪁
- As changeable as the tides. 🌊
5. As false as a painted smile
Meaning: Someone who hides their true feelings or intentions behind a fake appearance.
Example Sentences:
- “Her apology was as false as a painted smile, with no real remorse behind it.”
- “He’s as false as a painted smile, pretending to be happy while secretly plotting.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As insincere as a fake laugh. 😂
- As hollow as a mask. 🎭
6. As shifty as a shadow
Meaning: Someone who is sneaky and avoids being caught or confronted.
Example Sentences:
- “He’s as shifty as a shadow, always slipping away when things get tough.”
- “Her intentions were as shifty as a shadow, never fully revealing themselves.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As elusive as quicksand. 🏖️
- As secretive as a locked door. 🚪
7. As unstable as a house of cards
Meaning: Someone whose trustworthiness is fragile and easily collapses.
Example Sentences:
- “His promises are as unstable as a house of cards, ready to fall apart at any moment.”
- “She’s as unstable as a house of cards; one wrong move and everything crumbles.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As fragile as glass. 🧋
- As weak as a paper bridge. 🧻
8. As hollow as a drum
Meaning: Empty on the inside, lacking sincerity or truth.
Example Sentences:
- “His words were as hollow as a drum, lacking any real substance.”
- “Her apology sounded as hollow as a drum, echoing with emptiness.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As empty as a vacuum. 🌀
- As shallow as a puddle. 🌧️
9. As slippery as oil
Meaning: Difficult to catch or pin down due to evasive behavior.
Example Sentences:
- “He’s as slippery as oil, always finding a way to wiggle out of responsibility.”
- “Her promises were as slippery as oil, impossible to hold onto.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As evasive as fog. 🌫️
- As elusive as a mirage. 🌅
10. As unreliable as a weather forecast
Meaning: Someone whose actions or promises are as inconsistent as weather predictions.
Example Sentences:
- “You’re as unreliable as a weather forecast, changing your mind every time I ask.”
- “His plans are as unreliable as a weather forecast—one minute sunny, the next minute stormy.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As unpredictable as lightning. ⚡
- As inconsistent as a tide. 🌊
11. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: Lacking depth, sincerity, or genuine feeling.
Example Sentences:
- “His loyalty is as shallow as a puddle, offering no real support when needed.”
- “Her intentions were as shallow as a puddle, never going beyond surface-level concern.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As empty as a hollow tree. 🌳
- As superficial as a magazine cover. 📖
12. As fickle as a coin toss
Meaning: Someone who is unpredictable, changing with no clear reason.
Example Sentences:
- “Her mood is as fickle as a coin toss, changing without warning.”
- “He’s as fickle as a coin toss, never sticking to one decision for long.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As unpredictable as a dice roll. 🎲
- As inconsistent as a roulette wheel. 🎰
13. As empty as a broken promise
Meaning: Lacking any real value or fulfillment.
Example Sentences:
- “His words were as empty as a broken promise, offering nothing but disappointment.”
- “Her actions were as empty as a broken promise, leaving me feeling betrayed.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As hollow as an unfulfilled wish. 🌠
- As void as an abandoned house. 🏚️
14. As deceptive as a chameleon
Meaning: Someone who changes their appearance or behavior to blend in, hiding their true nature.
Example Sentences:
- “He’s as deceptive as a chameleon, always adapting to whatever suits him best.”
- “Her intentions were as deceptive as a chameleon, hiding behind different faces.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As sneaky as a fox. 🦊
- As manipulative as a puppet master. 🎭
15. As unreliable as a paper bridge
Meaning: Something that can’t be trusted or relied upon, as it’s weak and easily destroyed.
Example Sentences:
- “His promises were as unreliable as a paper bridge, crumbling under the slightest pressure.”
- “She’s as unreliable as a paper bridge, always falling apart when you need her most.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As fragile as a spider’s web. 🕸️
- As weak as wet cardboard. 📦
16. As unsteady as a tightrope walker
Meaning: Someone who is unstable, often in their actions or decisions.
Example Sentences:
- “His loyalty is as unsteady as a tightrope walker, always wavering under pressure.”
- “She’s as unsteady as a tightrope walker, one wrong move and everything falls apart.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As shaky as a leaf in the wind. 🍃
- As unpredictable as a storm at sea. 🌊
17. As hollow as a drum
Meaning: Someone who is empty on the inside, lacking sincerity or truth.
Example Sentences:
- “His apology was as hollow as a drum, echoing with insincerity.”
- “Her promises were as hollow as a drum, offering no real substance.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As empty as a vacuum. 🌀
- As shallow as a puddle. 🌧️
18. As slippery as ice
Meaning: Difficult to hold onto or trust, just like ice is hard to grasp.
Example Sentences:
- “He’s as slippery as ice, always slipping away when I try to catch him in a lie.”
- “Her words are as slippery as ice, hard to trust and even harder to hold onto.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As elusive as smoke. 🌫️
- As slippery as oil. 🛢️
19. As false as a counterfeit coin
Meaning: Something or someone pretending to be real but is actually fake or deceitful.
Example Sentences:
- “His sincerity was as false as a counterfeit coin, designed to deceive.”
- “Her kindness was as false as a counterfeit coin, hiding her true intentions.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As fake as a plastic flower. 🌸
- As dishonest as a forged signature. ✍️
20. As unpredictable as a tornado
Meaning: Someone whose behavior is chaotic and impossible to anticipate.
Example Sentences:
- “Her emotions are as unpredictable as a tornado, one minute calm and the next a whirlwind.”
- “His actions are as unpredictable as a tornado, leaving destruction in their wake.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As erratic as a lightning strike. ⚡
- As volatile as a volcano. 🌋
21. As deceptive as a mirage
Meaning: Something that appears to be true but is actually false, like an illusion.
Example Sentences:
- “His promises were as deceptive as a mirage, disappearing as soon as I reached for them.”
- “Her intentions were as deceptive as a mirage, luring me in with false hope.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As misleading as a false map. 🗺️
- As illusory as a dream. 🌙
22. As fragile as glass
Meaning: Someone who is easily broken or whose trustworthiness can shatter easily.
Example Sentences:
- “His integrity is as fragile as glass, ready to break at the slightest pressure.”
- “Her trustworthiness is as fragile as glass, easily shattered by a single lie.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As brittle as porcelain. 🍶
- As delicate as a butterfly wing. 🦋
23. As fleeting as a shooting star
Meaning: Something that is temporary and unreliable, like a fleeting moment.
Example Sentences:
- “His loyalty was as fleeting as a shooting star, bright for a moment but gone in an instant.”
- “Her promises were as fleeting as a shooting star, disappearing before I could hold onto them.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As short-lived as a summer breeze. 🌬️
- As transient as a passing cloud. ☁️
24. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: Lacking depth or substance, often used to describe someone who is not trustworthy.
Example Sentences:
- “Her explanations were as shallow as a puddle, offering no real insight.”
- “His loyalty was as shallow as a puddle, offering no support when needed.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As superficial as a reflection. 🪞
- As empty as a hollow tree. 🌳
25. As deceptive as a magician’s trick
Meaning: Someone who misleads or tricks others into believing something false.
Example Sentences:
- “His actions were as deceptive as a magician’s trick, making me believe he was trustworthy.”
- “Her apologies were as deceptive as a magician’s trick, designed to distract me from the truth.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As misleading as a sleight of hand. ✋
- As illusionary as a vanishing act. 🎩
26. As changeable as the weather
Meaning: Someone whose behavior or intentions are inconsistent and hard to predict.
Example Sentences:
- “Her feelings were as changeable as the weather, never staying the same for long.”
- “His promises were as changeable as the weather, always shifting with the seasons.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As unpredictable as a storm. ⛈️
- As volatile as a windstorm. 🌪️
27. As crooked as a politician
Meaning: Someone who is deceitful and dishonest, often with personal gain in mind.
Example Sentences:
- “His intentions were as crooked as a politician’s, always looking for a way to manipulate the situation.”
- “Her promises were as crooked as a politician’s, full of empty words and no action.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As corrupt as a corrupt official. 🏛️
- As dishonest as a con artist. 🎩
28. As fake as a plastic flower
Meaning: Someone or something that is not real, offering only a false appearance.
Example Sentences:
- “His kindness was as fake as a plastic flower, lacking any real emotion.”
- “Her apology was as fake as a plastic flower, meant only to cover up her mistakes.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As artificial as synthetic silk. 🧵
- As phony as a rubber mask. 🎭
29. As unstable as a house of cards
Meaning: Someone or something that is unreliable and easily collapses under pressure.
Example Sentences:
- “His promises were as unstable as a house of cards, ready to fall apart at any moment.”
- “Her loyalty was as unstable as a house of cards, crumbling with every challenge.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As fragile as a spider’s web. 🕸️
- As weak as a paper bridge. 📜
30. As slippery as quicksand
Meaning: Difficult to hold onto or trust, like trying to escape quicksand.
Example Sentences:
- “His excuses were as slippery as quicksand, pulling me deeper into his lies.”
- “Her promises were as slippery as quicksand, always shifting and impossible to hold onto.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As evasive as fog. 🌫️
- As deceptive as a mirage. 🌅
31. As shallow as a glass of water
Meaning: Lacking depth or sincerity, just like a shallow container.
Example Sentences:
- “Her apology was as shallow as a glass of water, offering no real emotion or understanding.”
- “His explanations were as shallow as a glass of water, barely skimming the surface.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As superficial as a movie script. 🎬
- As thin as a paper-thin lie. 📜
32. As unreliable as a leaky faucet
Meaning: Someone who is inconsistent and can’t be depended on.
Example Sentences:
- “Her promises were as unreliable as a leaky faucet, dripping away with no real commitment.”
- “He’s as unreliable as a leaky faucet, always letting you down when you need him.”
Other Ways to Say:
- As inconsistent as a broken record. 🎶
- As unpredictable as a leaking pipe. 🚰
Similes for Untrustworthy – Practical Exercise
Part 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct simile for “untrustworthy.”
- He’s as ______________ as a fox in a henhouse.
- Don’t believe a word she says—she’s as ______________ as shifting sand.
- That politician is as ______________ as a snake in the grass.
- His promises are as ______________ as a cloud in the wind.
- Be careful with him; he’s as ______________ as a broken bridge.
Part 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct simile to complete each sentence.
- She changes her mind so often; she’s as ______________.
a) Steady as a rock
b) Slippery as an eel
c) Clear as crystal - Don’t trust his words; they’re as ______________.
a) Solid as a mountain
b) Empty as a hollow log
c) Firm as a handshake - He’s known to backstab his friends, just like ______________.
a) A wolf in sheep’s clothing
b) A knight in shining armor
c) A bird in the sky - That deal sounded too good to be true; it was as ______________.
a) Honest as the day is long
b) Shaky as a house of cards
c) Straight as an arrow - Be careful around her—she’s as ______________ as a double-edged sword.
a) Safe
b) Trustworthy
c) Deceptive
Answers
- sneaky
- unreliable
- deceitful
- unpredictable
- dangerous
- b) Slippery as an eel
- b) Empty as a hollow log
- a) A wolf in sheep’s clothing
- b) Shaky as a house of cards
- c) Deceptive
Conclusion
Similes are a powerful tool in writing, offering a creative way to express complex emotions and behaviors.
By incorporating these 32 similes for untrustworthy individuals, you can make your writing more vivid, relatable, and impactful.
If you’re writing fiction, poetry, or simply expressing your thoughts in conversation, these similes will enrich your language and help you communicate more effectively.
